Garden Design IdeasGarden Ideas, Photos and Tips for Gardening at Home
A rock garden can add height and depth to a compressed area . Add a waterfall or other water supply characteristic to enhance the innate appearance . fashion designer : Philip Thornburg , Winterbloom Landscaping . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
add a rock garden to your yard is a originative way to add depth and dimension to a flavourless or mundane space , or to introduce an element of surprisal . The broken appearance of rock append earthy appeal , connecting a manmade landscape painting to the natural humans .
Rocks can be used to define a slope , act as a replacement for a lawn , or become a solution to an area where little will grow . Different areas of the yard such as walk and beds can be outlined or split with an attractive agreement of rocks , pebble or gravel . A rock garden can wander from a complex large - scale project with many facet and layer , to something as round-eyed as a lowly corner grace with gravel and river stones . Even a container can become a miniature rock landscape painting .
Rock gardens are low - maintenance and lend year - beat structure to the landscape . In order for your finished project to have cohesion , it should be well thought out and designed . Here are some introductory principles to get you originate , along with a listing of recommend plants .
PLANNING A ROCK GARDEN
Think outside the box . Even a front railway yard can be the site of a rock garden , such as this entree shown here . Designer : Philip Thornburg , Winterbloom Landscaping . pic : Janet Loughrey .
Choose and evaluate your site.
Where would a rock’n’roll garden look substantially in your G ? Is the website in sun or shade ? Will plants need regular pee , or will it be a drought - tolerant landscape ? Do n’t be afraid to guess outside the loge . Even a front G can have a rock garden .
Research.
Gather ideas by look at pic of rock gardens on the cyberspace and by visiting local gardens . Make an estimate board or list with attributes you need to include .
Draw up a design.
Once you have some basic ideas , make a program and force a crude sketch . For a bigger projection , you may want to consult with a landscape designer . Larger rocks are a challenge to wind and define in place , so it ’s crucial to know in front of metre where you desire them .
Consider scale.
Use material that are in scale with your home and yard . Big boulders can deluge a small outer space , while small stone will get lost in a wholesale landscape painting .
Choose a style.
raspy irregular rock ‘n’ roll add rugged natural appeal , while fluent pebble or clean white gravel impart a more formal appearance , such as with Japanese rock gardens andZen rock gardens . Create a look that complement your domicile ’s style as well as the rest of the 1000 .
Keep it natural.
Take a cue from Mother Nature by making the rock garden appear like it belongs . This will make the design more visually pleasing and cohesive with the rest of the 1000 . Random grouping of stones will count more natural than send them in neat rows or organized pattern . comprise a water feature or stepping endocarp to enhance the innate collection .
HOW TO BUILD A ROCK GARDEN
Vary materials such as pebble , gravel and stepping stones to make a more visually interesting landscape painting . graphic designer : Adriana Berry , Plant Passion Design . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
Make a list.
In rules of order to have the correct stuff on bridge player , make a inclination of what you need .
Source materials.
Peruse local garden centers , home improvement stock and strong suit rock provider to see and compare materials before buying . For the budget - disposed , Craigslist and Freecycle often have listings from multitude looking to get rid of rock material . Consider rock quarries or natural area that leave rockhounding .
Vary the rocks.
To create line and optic stake , deviate the size and form of the rocks . Use a mix of materials such as Stone , pebbles and crushed rock .
Placement.
Use a few well - placed large rock candy as primary focal item to anchor the space and install those first . Allow space between the sway for flora to grow . Smaller complementary stones or gravel placed around the large rocks will unify the pattern .
Keep color in mind.
Select larger rocks in lighter hues so the landscape does n’t feel dark and with child . alter the color and timber of other materials to lend contrast and visual interest .
Instill order.
To keep the design from looking too busy , choose rock with completing colors and shape . lie in out swath of the same pebbles or get at rather than mixing too many materials together .
HOW TO PLANT A ROCK GARDEN
This John Rock garden features plants that thrive in fond shade , include ferns , run centre , false hellebore and ‘ Bowles Golden ’ sedge ( Carex ) . Designer : Philip Thornburg , Winterbloom Landscaping . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
Soil matters.
produce an environment that is hospitable to your take works . Alpine plants and other drought - resistant plants will require flaxen grunge with shrewd drainage . Others , such as ferns and hostas , will require richer soil and more wet .
Pick the right plants.
Choose plant that will thrive in your clime . Traditional rock gardens admit varieties that are alpine in line , as the conditions simulate their aboriginal home ground . Rock garden plant life tend to be small to complement the weighing machine of the stone . habit perennial , decorative supergrass and small shrubs to add erect elevation . Creeping groundcovers will soften the coming into court of the hard rock . impart sturdy bulb such as narcissus , wild tulips and Allium for contrast . merged evergreen plant dwarf and cringe coniferous tree for year - round interest . For a shade garden , choose moss , ferns and hostas .
Complement and contrast.
To lend cohesion , choose flora with harmonious or complemental colors to the rock ‘n’ roll . Use a mix of plants with flowers and foliage interest and combine upright and grovel form .
ROCK GARDEN PLANTS
Also see:24 Rock Garden Plants for a colourful Low - Maintenance Garden
MAINTAINING A ROCK GARDEN
Designer Burl Mostul , Villa Catalana . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
Water.
Rocks absorb warmth , especially in a sunny site , so plants can dry out out quickly . Make indisputable works receive passable water , peculiarly during hot piece .
Fertilize.
Some plant life such as alpines and succulents take little or no supplemental plant food , while others such as coral bell and hostas will profit from a boost of nutrient . Research your plants needs and fecundate consequently .
Weed.
A layer of pocket-sized John Rock or gravel act as a natural weed suppressant , facilitate to keep the landscape scurvy - maintenance . Keep areas destitute from weeds so plants do n’t get overwhelmed or deprived of water and nutrients . finally , plants should fill up in enough to crush most grass .
Prune.
abbreviate out dead growth and absent pass flush to encourage new growing and keep a neat appearance .
ROCK GARDEN IDEAS
Keep rocks in scale with the grounds . In this small space , rocks are stack to create a sculptural H2O feature article , while a single boulder place strategically on the other side of the path helps equilibrise the composition . Designers : Barbara Hilty and Adriana Berry . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
See more ofthis garden , including before / after picture and plant used . picture by : Proven Winners .
find fault a panache that matches your home and landscape painting . This Asiatic - style rock garden call forth a sense of calm and parliamentary law . Designer : Helena Wagner , 4 Seasons Gardens . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
Creeping groundcovers such as lanate thyme can be used to soften punishing rock surfaces . Gardener : Karen Olberding . photograph : Janet Loughrey .
Large ordered series careen garden or hillside terrace . interior decorator : Burl Mostul , Villa Catalana . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
Leave spaces between rocks for plants to grow . nurseryman : : Karen Olberding . Photo : Janet Loughrey .
