How to Build a Rock Wall Planter

Lay a garden hose on the ground or use spray paint to create the outline which will form the shape of the planter.

Tamp the soil into place to create a level area in which to build. Taking your time here is very important since the area must be even and stable enough to hold the rocks in place.

Smooth out a 12 inch strip just inside the paint line. Using a tamper to compact the soil will prevent the wall from uneven settling.

Collect rocks in a variety of sizes. Choose small grapefruit-size stones to large boulders. Sort the rocks that you have collected by dividing them into three piles. Pile the largest stones closest to the wall, the medium sized in the middle and the smaller ones in the back.

Begin setting the rocks in place that will form the foundation of your wall. Use the largest as a cornerstone. Put the larger stones on the bottom along the outline. Creating the wall in this manner will form the strongest base for the wall.

Distribute the stones evenly along the outline making sure all the stones are touching. Avoid contrasts in color and texture.

Fill in any openings with the medium stones. When no mortar is used, the wall is referred to as a dry stack and must not exceed a height of 18 inches unless the base measures three layers wide or the foundation is made of concrete. If the height exceeds 18 inches, uneven settling will occur under the stress of the excessive weight of the heavy stones.

Use the smallest stones to complete the top layers.

Use landscape fabric or weed cloth along the backside of the wall before you add dirt to the planter. This will help prevent grass from growing through the walls.

Place a few of the larger stones in the bottom of the planter to take up space since it will take a lot of dirt to fill. Using stones in the bottom will also help with drainage. Add the topsoil.

Determine the height and spacing of your plants to avoid replanting later.

Place higher and brightly colored plants in the background and smaller and darker color plants in the foreground. This helps the smaller plants from being overcrowded and lost in the garden.

Weed and give adequate water until the plants are well established.