Gardening: The Rock Garden

Rock gardens have not always been common in the United States, with people sometimes making the mistake that they are artificial. But this simply is not the case. Like the name implies, rock gardens are basically gardens with rocks. When building a rock garden, the most important thing to remember is that the look must be natural.

 

This natural quality is important because aside from looking absolutely picturesque, one is simulating the natural habitat where plants and flowers grow in nature.

 

When building a rock garden, one must be careful when considering a site. And, unfortunately, not all homes are the best site for a rock garden. For one thing, rock gardens should never be near the house, unless the house has been built near higher elevations, hills or even mountains. Southwest architecture or scenery lends itself to having this type of garden near the home.

 

Another important factor to remember is that the rock garden, while aesthetically pleasing, should not be the main focus of one's yard. A nice green lawn should be the main focus, while the rock garden goes well at the edges for a natural balance.

 

Trees need not be altogether avoided; sometimes they are essential to the pictorial effect. It is not well, however, to place a rock garden near very large trees. The drip is bad, especially for alpines, and the greedy roots not only rob the plants of nourishment but are very apt to dislocate the stones.

Many homes, especially those in the country, have all the material you need to create a beautiful rock garden. In fact, using the natural rock from your area is not only resourceful, but it also saves a lot of time. A single boulder, a few scattered rocks or a rocky bank can be converted into a simple rock garden without moving a stone. A little judicious planting and the transformation is complete!

 

Any kind of natural stone is your best option when choosing the type of rock you'll use, but remember—avoid anything artificial! The whole point is to have your garden look as natural as possible.

The easiest way to start off your rock garden is to take the largest of the rocks you have and lay them out, partially buried, so that the largest face of the rock faces up. Pack soil between the crevices as hard and tight as you can, watering it down and letting it dry over night for good measure. Repeat this step for your second layer of rocks.

 

At no point between two stones should the layer of soil be less than two or three inches thick after being packed hard. If an upper stone is likely to bear down too heavily and crush the plant roots, this may be avoided by placing small stones here and there in the layer of soil. The roots will work between these stones, but there must be a continuous, though not necessarily straight, soil run from the front of the rockwork to the solid filling of earth. The run should slope downward slightly.

 

Rocks calculated to simulate a natural stratification ought to be laid on an incline for proper drainage. Such pieces of rock may also be employed sparsely in wedging and in the making of the so-called "pockets."

 

These pockets are of prime importance in the construction of a rock garden. They hold the only considerable spaces of soil and are the chief means of colonizing plants, thus providing for pronounced color effects.

Choose plants that are native to the area in which you live, but go for color and variety. Avoid plants with large roots, as these could disturb the rock formations in time. Ferns, shrubs and flowering plants are a good way to start.

 

 

Adams, H.S. (1912). Making A Rock Garden. Retrieved March 30, 2008, from the Project Gutenberg Web site: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/604_vein.html.