Place your most substantial rocks in the corner to create a stable structure. Then work your way out, adding smaller rocks as you go. Fill in the gaps between your garden rocks with well-draining, sandy soil.
So, that’s the basics of building a rock garden. But how do you turn a pile of rocks into a fabulous garden feature? Let’s examine some awe-inspiring suggestions to get your creativity flowing!
Succulent plants have a reputation for being boring. But I admit that since we moved to an area with a hotter climate, I’ve got a new-found admiration for these resilient plants! They are nearly indestructible in harsh conditions where many other plants fail. Subjected to drought and heatwaves for half the year, then frosts and heavy rainfall through the winter, succulents will continue to thrive regardless!
The other great thing about these drought-tolerant plants is that they come in various shapes and sizes. You can create a stunning visual display in your corner rock garden using shapes, colors, and textures. And when they burst into flower in the summer, you are in for a breathtaking visual treat!
Bring the peace and tranquility of traditional Japanese rock gardens to your home by incorporating them into your garden’s design. Zen gardens revolve around sand, smooth stones, and a minimalistic planting scheme with tropical plants such as ferns or bamboo.
This clever Japanese corner garden idea uses materials you may already have collecting dust, such as concrete blocks repurposed as a mountain-like feature at the back of the garden. Once created, this beautiful garden will require very little maintenance, leaving you free to soak up the tranquil atmosphere of your peaceful retreat.
Alpine plants thrive in rocky environments with well-drained soil and make excellent additions to a rocky flower bed. Use small boulders and cultivate alpine flowers such as edelweiss, saxifrage, or alpine primrose for a lovely mountainous feel.
Need more inspiration? I love how this alpine rock garden design on Gardenia utilizes plants with bright flowers in various colors with plenty of greenery to fill the gaps. Adding evergreen and perennial plants means it will look great all year round, creating a beautiful rock garden with unshakable visual appeal.
Incorporating a backyard water feature such as a fountain or a mini pond will add a calming element to your rock garden. After all, nothing is as relaxing as the tranquil sound of trickling water! And, if creating a water feature is new to you, this simple guide will help you every step of the way.
Your flowing water design can be as small or large as you want to make it. Tweak it to fit into the space you have available. If this project looks too daunting, purpose-made water features are surprisingly inexpensive and can easily incorporate into a rock garden design.
Don’t build a small corner rock garden without reading this book first! It’s an excellent rock garden guide entitled Rock Gardening, Reminaging a Classic Style by Joseph Tychonievich. The book includes beautiful rockery photos and helpful tips to help your backyard rock garden come to life – including rock garden tips plus profiles for 50 excellent plants for your rock garden.
Once upon a time, a rockery was a vital feature in every cottage garden. Over the years, they have fallen out of favor, but luckily they are now having a resurgence! Adding rocks as part of a flower border design helps to naturalize your planting scheme, especially when using larger stones that encourage taller plants to grow upwards.
For a more traditional cottage garden space, use a mix of annual flowers and perennial plants such as lavender, delphiniums, and coneflowers. Adding a wooden bench or a birdhouse will help to complete the rustic look.
Bring a bit of fairy dust into your garden with a magical corner rock garden! By incorporating miniature plants, tiny houses, and small figurines, you can turn a mundane area into a fun world that children and adults alike will be fascinated by. Small flat rocks and smooth pebbles are perfect for creating paths, and fairy doors add a whimsical touch.
Finding anything that likes to grow in a shady dark corner is tricky. But designing a fern-cultivating rock garden for this area may be the solution. If your corner rock garden gets plenty of light, you can combine larger shrubs and beautiful flowers to create a lush display of foliage and blooms.
Does your corner feature ample shade? Then consider evergreens. Evergreen plants such as hostas, ferns, and heucheras will thrive in low-light environments. Large rocks and boulders work to create different levels and add texture and height to your design – mimicking a natural rock formation
