Quickly Designing A Rock Garden

If you’re looking for a new way to add some beauty to your landscaping, you might want to think about a rock garden. A small rock garden can add a touch of something special, while a large one can be a defining part of your yard. Either way, there are a few steps you will take that are universal to most rock gardens.

The first step is to clear the area in which you want to put your rock garden. You don’t want grass getting in the way, and you’re pretty much going to cover up the area where you’re putting your rock garden, so the ground should be free and clear of grasses and weeds. Instead of cutting the grass, heavily rake the area and then dig, flipping the grass over. You can put more dirt on top of the grass, but that might not prevent grass from growing if it gets enough water, despite the lack of sunlight from the rocks and the tarp (see below).

The next step is to put plastic over the ground. Most people go with black plastic, such as heavy, thick plastic bags, but you can use white or any other color you want, depending upon the color of the rocks you’ll use in your rock garden. If you’ve smoothed the ground you’re going to cover well, this plastic water and sun barrier should work perfectly.

The third step is to anchor the plastic down so that it won’t come popping up on the edges. You can get creative here in using things to lay on top of the plastic, but take care not to puncture the plastic, otherwise you’ll have made covering it up a moot point. Some people use large, heavy rocks around the edges that will stand out against much smaller rocks in the middle. Some people use things such as bricks or concrete blocks. Whatever you use, try to make sure it’s something that will help to keep the plastic flat on the ground. Remember, you don’t want to allow water or light to penetrate to the ground beneath the rock garden.

The next step is adding your design. Some people like encircling a large flower pot with rocks. Some people add other things—lawn ornaments, sculptures, etc— and then highlight them with the rocks. Some opt to create a pattern with rocks of different colors, such as an initial or some kind of emblem. Whatever you choose, implementing your design should be the fourth step.

The fifth step is the easiest step: cover the rest of the plastic with whatever color, style or size of rocks you choose to use. Depending on where you live, you may find multiple colors of rocks or only have a few choices. Some stores will even color the rocks for you, giving you even greater choice and flexibility.

A rock garden gives you the opportunity to show your sense of style and flair, and, if done properly, will definitely add ambience and value to your home.