If you are looking to make the most of your outdoor space, a rock garden is far from the worst idea. There are a ton of rock garden ideas (and rock garden plants) that can make your outdoor space all your own.
Part of creating a nice rock garden means having a gas hedge trimmer to clear away unwanted sprouts of grass and weeds. Clearing the space of shrubbery means being able to implement the crisp look that a good rock garden has.
What is a Rock Garden?
Before you can start work on the rock garden, you need to know all about rock gardens. Check out rock garden images for starters. There are a variety of plants for rock gardens so that you can get the right look. Not to mention getting the right garden rock.
Basically, a rock garden is a type of garden that mimics natural environments. Rock gardens are great for mixing plants, too. A particular rock can provide the shade necessary for one plant while another gets more of the sunlight.
It is a great idea if you like versatility in your plant selections. Moreover, it is something you can do with the whole family.
Rock Garden Ideas That You Can Do with the Family
Looking for rock garden ideas? The good news is that there are tons of small rock garden ideas out there to choose from. All you have to do is do a cursory Google search and you will see just how many options there really are.
You can go with stacked rocks or large stones. Maybe an alpine garden or look for succulent garden ideas. For desert climates, look into cactus garden ideas. The possibilities are really limitless.
How to Build a Rock Garden with the Family
The good news is that you can build a rock garden relatively simply. Before you think about how to build a rock garden, think of your garden place. Then you’ll need a landscape rock (or landscaping rocks depending on how big), organic garden soil, some garden stones, and more. It doesn’t hurt to know the difference between potting soil and garden soil, either.
First, clear out a section of land. You need to designate your space before doing anything. This way, you can figure out the best part of the yard in which to map out your rock garden.
Speaking of mapping out, it is time to plot the design. By plotting the design, you can know how it will fit into your garden space. Moreover, you can plan what kind of materials that you want to use.
You then choose what kind of rocks you want to use for the space, laying down the first layer. The cool thing here is that you can go with any design that you see fit. Consider the plants that you are going with so that you can accommodate for shading and spacing. Different plants need different sunlight exposure, spacing, etc.
You can then begin to lay down the soil. Depending on the manufacturer, you might have to follow specific instructions. Make sure that you pay attention to these things as they do matter for the overall growth of your rock garden.
Then comes time to lay down the secondary layer of rocks. Depending on the design and the size of rocks being used, you can mix things up. Again, remember to take the needs of the plants into consideration.
Finally, you can begin to plant those plants. Take care to put them in at points where they will experience the best growth. If you need a little more space, accommodate for that. If you have plants that need more shade, put them behind the big rocks. It is those little details that can make a massive difference in how your plants grow.
Plants for Your Rock Garden
Speaking of plants, the type of rock garden plants that you choose can make a huge difference in the style of your rock garden. Maybe you like Japanese garden plants. Or perhaps you like winter garden plants. What about alpine plants, rain garden plants, fairy garden plants, flowering succulent plants, small succulent plants, or even artificial succulent plants?
The possibilities can be endless, so make sure that you do a little bit of homework before making your selection. This is just as important as any other step in the process.
Maintenance of a Rock Garden
While the installation is certainly important, you need to know how to take care of a garden, too. That means knowing how to keep birds out of the garden. It also means knowing “how often should I water my garden?”
How often to water a garden is particularly important. Learn how to till a garden, too. The initial installation can go a long way in the overall care of your garden, but if you can’t care for it going forward, it won’t do a lot of good.
Know the proper maintenance techniques. Know how to till and when to water your particular plants. And most of all, know that different plants have different maintenance needs. It can make a huge difference in the care of your rock garden and the longevity of that rock garden going forward. Know what steps to take to properly care for it.
Conclusion
Having a rock garden can be a great activity and hobby for you and your family. The best thing is that you can get truly creative, picking different kinds of plants and rocks to fit your aesthetic.
The key is proper planning. After all, different plants have different requirements. If you create a rock garden that isn’t quite suited for the plants that you have chosen, you will have difficulty in keeping them alive.
Still, it can be the type of activity that keeps you and your family busy for the summer. Creating the rock garden and tending to it unleashes a world of possibilities right in your backyard.
by Liam Mills