Rock Gardens: The Solution for Troublesome Landscapes

Does your landscape contain a steep embankment? Does it have non-grassy or rocky areas? These troublesome sites need not be nuisances; in fact, these are ideal locations for creating rock gardens. These types of gardens can provide endless beauty throughout the seasons as well as individuality. Since design techniques and climates vary, so will the rock garden.

Many types of plants thrive in a rocky environment; the key factors for success involve good drainage, proper soil amendment and rock selection. Choose plants suitable to your particular landscape. Incorporate native wildflowers, small garden plants and dwarf varieties of other plants. To create visual interest throughout the seasons, add bulbs and other spring-blooming plants followed by summer and fall bloomers. For winter interest, dwarf grasses and conifers along with other evergreen plants can be added. Succulents are quite natural in a rock garden, especially mixed together with various daisies. A variety of succulents will thrive within a flat rock garden as well. A few of these favorites include sedums, jade plants, and sempervivums; all of which look quite charming nestled amidst an assortment of mulching materials. 

The uneven, rough outlines of rocks also make a wonderful setting for growing a variety of cacti. Bulbs which can be planted in between rocks include crocus, hyacinth, snowdrops, scilla, dwarf iris and daffodil varieties. Numerous annuals and perennials work well within rock gardens and may include wooly yarrow, thyme, campanula, phlox, geranium, anemone, columbine, dianthus, violet, allium, lady’s mantle, ajuga, foam flower, coral bells, thrift, ice plant, Artemisia, cushion spurge, lamb’s ears, periwinkle, ageratum, sweet alyssum, hens and chicks, silver mound, sweet woodruff, aster, dwarf marigold, moss rose, sweet William, baby’s breath, and lavender. Compact varieties of shrubs such as barberry, juniper, spirea, and rugosa rose can be implemented as well.