How to Plant a Rock Garden

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Select a sunny location.

   Your rock garden will need lots of sun, so find an area of your yard that gets full sun.If you don’t have a full sun location, choose an area that gets a few hours of sustained sunshine.
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   Step 2: Avoid shade from trees and overhangs.

   On a day when you’re home, chart out where the shadows fall in your yard to make sure that your selected area does not fall under shade.
   
   You may find that during times you’re out of the house a large shadow covers your desired spot.If you live in a region that gets very cold, you also want to avoid areas susceptible to frost.
   
   Frost can destroy your rock garden, so choose a spot in your yard that is least likely to freeze over., Rock gardens need to allow the water to drain off in order to thrive.
   
   The plants that work best for a rock garden are drought-resistant, so make sure that they won’t drown in poorly drained soil.If you don’t find an area with good drainage, then you can build a raised bed., Protect your rock garden from competition by ensuring that it’s clear of weeds before you begin your planting.
   
   You can pull the weeds yourself or use a herbicide., You should have about 6 inches (15 centimeters) of stone to support your rock garden.
   
   You will cover this stone with your topsoil, plants, and selected stones., Include your rocks, the plants, and any shaded areas.
   
   If you are building a raised bed, factor that into your sketch.You can choose complementary plants, such as all flowers, or a layered design, which would include different types of plants with varying sizes.Great layering options include shrubs, flowers, mounded plants, and ground cover.
   
   Choosing different types of plants and rocks creates visual interest and more accurately portrays natural growth., You can use any type of rock or stone, ranging from large boulders to gravel.
   
   For best results, choose a variety of sizes.
   
   Be sure to buy smaller rocks to support your large stones while also planning for stand-alone smaller rocks.Save money by recycling rocks and stones.Use varying sizes of stones for more visual interest., Use a light colored sand to recreate the designs from your sketch.
   
   The sand will help you place the heavier stones without risking having to move them., Use a shovel or trowel to create a small indention in the ground.
   
   Go beyond your base level of rock or gravel and into the dirt below so that your large stones will be stable.
   
   You only need to remove a few inches of dirt to create a resting place for your stones., Before you move your large stones into place, put smaller stabilizing rocks near the indention you created.
   
   Some of the rocks may need to be moved into place after you place the larger rock., Use a shovel or crowbar to move the large rocks in your chosen locations.
   
   After you have your large stone in place, reposition the smaller stabilizing rocks to help support the larger stones., Based on the design you created, place the rest of your stones into your plot.
   
   Think about where you will be doing your planting., Choose a top quality topsoil that meets the needs of the plants you’ve chosen.
   
   Your soil should cover at least one-third of the rock so that your stones will be stable in their positions.
   
   Keep the soil between your stones loose so that you can easily add your plants., You can either purchase compost or make your own.
   
   Use it to enrich your rock garden before you add your plants., Perennials will return year after year, making your rock garden resilient to the changing seasons.Popular perennials for rock gardens include rock cress, blanket flower, periwinkle, switchgrass, peonies, phlox, soapwort, coral bells, hardy hibiscus, oregano, and agave plants.
   
   If you really want the look of your favorite annuals, add them sparingly to your garden.
   
   Plan to replant those areas each year as the plants succumb to the seasons. , Rock gardens usually include plants that can thrive in harsh conditions, such as a mountain.
   
   Make sure that the plants you want to include in your rock garden are strong enough to thrive.Your rock garden should be low maintenance, so choose plants that are drought-resistant.Use the USDA plant hardiness guide by visiting http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/phzmweb/interactivemap.aspx.
   
   For a world hardiness zone map, visit https://www.decodedplants.com/zone-five-usda-plant-hardiness-world-view/550. , Buying the plants at one time will help you visualize how they will look together, but it is possible to plant it in sections if you are working on a large plot. , Don’t remove the plants from their temporary pots.
   
   Use your garden hose, flower pail, or a cup to wet the dirt.Once your rock garden is planted, how often you need to water your plants depends on your climate and plant choices.
   
   Because rock gardens are meant to be drought-resistant, you should not need to water them much., Refer to your sketch and move the plants around until you are happy with the arrangement.
   
   Once you have your arrangement laid out, make sure that you aren’t creating a shady spot by putting a larger plant too close to a ground plant., Overtime, your plants will grow in height and width.
   
   Plan for this growth as you do your planting so that your garden will flourish.
   
   Each plant should come with an informational card with the plant dimensions at maturity.
   
   If you did not receive this information, then look up your plant online., Gently pull each plant out and shake the roots to untangle them to prepare the plant for transplant., Pat the soil down around the plant to keep it stable., Finish your garden with a loose layer of gravel or grit.
   
   You can choose any small rock mixture that fits the aesthetic of your rock garden.
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   Step 3: Choose an area with good drainage.

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   Step 4: Weed your plot.

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   Step 5: Spread a base of broken rock or gravel.

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   Step 6: Sketch out your plan.

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   Step 7: Buy your stones.

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   Step 8: Outline your plot with sand.

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   Step 9: Dig a small inset for the large rocks.

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    Step 10: Position small rocks near the inset.

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    Step 11: Place your large rocks.

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    Step 12: Position your remaining small stones.

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    Step 13: Apply a top soil.

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    Step 14: Add compost to the areas where you’ll plant.

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    Step 15: Choose perennials.

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    Step 16: Check your plant’s hardiness.

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    Step 17: Purchase your plants.

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    Step 18: Water the plants.

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    Step 19: Position the plants before taking them out of the pots.

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    Step 20: Allow space for plant growth.

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    Step 21: Take the plants from the pots.

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    Step 22: Place your plants under the topsoil and recover them with compost.

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    Step 23: Apply gravel or grit on top of the topsoil.

Detailed Guide

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