How to Garden with Rocks

Place Rocks for Practical Benefits

• 1

  Set rocks at places in your garden where you can use them to step on, tap your hoe against, or place things on that you don't want to get dirty. During very wet periods, these rocks will be useful in helping you to keep things clean and to avoid stepping on growing plants.

• 2

  Intersperse rocks with plants to help regulate the temperature of the soil. Flat rocks that are set into the surface of the soil will absorb heat from the sun throughout the day and disperse it gradually through the night, helping to reduce temperature fluctuations near sensitive plant roots.

• 3

  Position rocks along the edge of your garden to delineate between garden soil and lawn. By placing rocks close together and creating a barrier, you can reduce the tendency of grass and weeds to enter into your garden space.

Use Rocks for Aesthetic Effects

• 4

  Build a dramatic, Japanese-style rock garden on your property by covering a large rectangle with pea-sized gravel and placing large, eye-catching stones at strategic points within it. Keep the gravel neatly raked and free from twigs and debris to create a beautiful and austere effect.

• 5

  Place a single large rock at the center of your vegetable garden. Plant climbing beans and peas around the base of the rock and let them climb up and over it.

• 6

  Stand flat rocks on end as markers for the ends of your vegetable rows. Paint the names of the vegetables on the rocks in bright paint. These stones will be more attractive and durable than seed packets balanced on sticks.