Choosing and laying rocks and stones for a beautiful designed garden

Rocks are essential for a rockery as they both influence the look of the rockery and become a key part of the biotype. Rocks come in various shapes, types and colours, You can obtain good quality rocks and stones from quarries or companies that form rock mexhants.

The type of rock is directly influenced by the soil conditions. Stones and rocks will weather, crumble and disappear into the soil where plants will absorb their mineral content. The lime-rich soil is suitable for alkaline loving plants while basalt, granite or sandstone will be located on natural or acid soils. The shapes of rocks and stones you select should be determined by the design of the rockery.

  • Large, beautifully shaped stones for groups of natural rocks

  • Flat stones for drystone walls.

  • Level, non-slip stones for stepping stones through the rockery

The stone and rock colours will be determined by the conditions on site and also by individual preferences.

  • Light coloured stones are welcoming and are perfect for shady gardens.

  • Dark coloured stones are rather gloomy, they store a lot of heat when placed sunny positions.

Laying rocks and stones

Rocks and stones in the wild always lie on their broadest flat surface. Stones that are jagged-looking sharp look very natural. A natural look is created when groups of rocks and stones of various sizes are combined with smaller groups of plants. Plants can also cover the whole rock.

Tips on laying rocks and stones

  1. Miniature rockeries

These do not use very large stones or rocks. They normally have a flat mound and small rocks.

  1. Sloping rockery

Make small hollows on the slope for larger stones and then plants later on as if they had caught hold of the stone. Smaller stones can be grouped around larger ones. Do not create a sloping area of soil. Dig soil steps and lay stones to create a terraced effect on a natural slope.

Groups of random stones

This design makes use of very large stones. Ensure that the rocks are layed safely on top of each other and have them partly sunk into the soil. Do not live them slightly or sliding as this will cause lethal accidents.

Rockeries with water

Place a pool or small pond at the lowest point of the terrain. Sunken paths are perfect ideal conditions of growth of many plants.