How to Design a Rock Garden

Prepare Your Area

• 1

  Lay down a layer of newspapers in the area of your choice. This will smother the grass and promote decomposition over time. Medium-sized rock gardens can have a diameter of about four feet.

• 2

  Lay out a circle of stones as a base. For a medium-sized garden, use rocks under 12 inches in any direction.

• 3

  Select a sandy soil to add to your rock garden. Most rock gardens require some drainage in garden soil.

• 4

  Mix 25 percent compost in with 75 percent sandy soil.

• 5

  Use smaller rocks to create a second circle within the inside of the larger rock circle. Make the circle small enough to accommodate plants between the first and second circles.

Choose Your Plants

• 6

  Know that, when choosing plants for your rock garden, you will need to choose plants with similar soil requirements.

• 7

  Consider the light requirements of your selected plants. Finding plants that thrive in full sun will work well in a sunny garden.

• 8

  Develop a color scheme for your rock garden, which will help you narrow down your choices.

• 9

  Determine your ideal height for the foliage in your rock garden.

• 10

  Bring your plant requirements to a nursery or garden shop to make your selections. Ask a professional to help you select the correct plants.

• 11

  Consider plant size and leaf texture when selecting your plants, and aim for about two plants per chosen color.

Plant Your Rock Garden

• 12

  Use a garden trowel to dig the holes where your plants will go. Insert the plant into the hole and cover the indentation with dirt.

• 13

  Plant the rest of your rock garden plants with space around them.

• 14

  Add extra rocks between the plants to complete the rock garden effect.

• 15

  Sprinkle a layer of stone mulch between the cracks to suppress weed growth.

• 16

  Water your freshly planted rock garden plants.