You're subscribed!
Got Boulders? Ideas for Creating a Rock Garden
Rock gardens offer an opportunity to create a visually dramatic landscape and even a low-maintenance solution to awkward spaces such as a steeply sloped front yard. The choice of rock can set the tone for the garden — will you go with terracotta stones that complement a tropical landscape, lava rock for a modern look? Or will you use what nature provides, as in this rock garden designed by LDAW Landscape Architecture PC that's filled with boulders and overflowing with lush sedums.
Plant choice, of course, is key in rock garden design. Grasses, sedums and mungo pines look at home in rock gardens, which often are placed in sunny areas. Lavender, California poppies, cheddar pinks dianthus, shasta daisy, creeping phlox, agave and thyme are among the variety of plants that thrive in the warm and well-drained growing environment offered by a rock garden.
Mix rock sizes and shapes to create interest. Consider pairing boulders with smaller river stones, or create a daring palette for your rock garden by using pea gravel and colored glass pebbles. Here's how to create a low-maintenance Zen rock garden.
See the following photos for rock garden ideas and tips on how to incorporate rock garden design into your space.
