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verity_mubiana

How to build a rock garden?

5 years ago

Hi guys, I’ve not long moved into this property and as u can see I’ve got quiet a big job on my hands with my garden. With summer fast my approaching i really need help with design ideas. I wanted to build a rock garden up the top corner. The land is on a incline and the soil is like clay and full of glass and toys and rubbish. please help me with what to do. Thank you


Comments (10)

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    I don't think you'll be able to get good advice until you actually show the surroundings of the space. Stand where you can see the whole space. Take a series of slightly overlapping pictures, while standing at that one spot, that pan across the space, from left to right, showing the background as much as the "floor." Be far enough away that the roof is included in the views, but not any farther than that.

  • 5 years ago

    Thank you I will do this and try and upload them later

  • 5 years ago

    There you go

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    I'm beginning to understand the space. However, and it's my fault for not mentioning it, but the pictures should have been taken from a typical important viewpoint, instead of a viewpoint that one would almost certainly never see the garden from.The place that seems to quality is the corner of the house. If you had your back to that, then you could even see around the corner, to the far side of the house, as part of the panning process, if the area of interest goes that far. Holding the camera vertical worked well for showing us more than just the garden dirt. Now we see what needs to be landscaped. We just need to see it from the opposite viewpoint. (You do not need to overlap the pictures a lot. Just a little. 5'.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I have to agree with Christopher. You have a typical tiny British back garden which isn't really suited to a rock garden at all. You could have a lovely private space there and if you want to grow alpine plants you could have some attractive containers filled with appropriate fast draining gritty soil and grow your plants there. They will be much happier than in the ground and you'll be able to admire them from close up. You need to get a basic plan for where you want a sitting area, paths, a lawn if you want one, beds, shrubs, perhaps a small tree. Think about the levels. You might need some terracing or paving. Get the hardscaping done before you think about planting anything. Just plonking some stones on a heap of earth in the corner will look sad and fill up with weeds in no time.


  • 5 years ago

    Thank you it wasn’t so much alpine I wanted but just wanted a nice small area for some flowers and plants and thought some chipping or rocks would look nice maybe have a small lawn in the middle and then some paving around the side but I really am stuck as to how to go about it.. I’m probably best just getting a private gardener to come and do it for me x

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    It was the phrase 'rock garden' that threw us. If you just mean a gravel or chipping mulch then that's a different thing. However, although trendy at the moment they're often mess after a while because weeds growing the stones. And in our climate white stone ends up green or brown.

    What is your budget and what skills do you have? Looking at the slope I think you need a certain amount of well built hardscaping to keep the soil from washing down onto your paving even if you don't do anything else. Do you want a patio/sitting area? Do you need a shed? Where is the sunniest place for seating? You need to think about all the things you want out of your garden and then work from there.

    It might be best to just do some containers now while you are thinking through your ideas. And if you do employ someone, you want a landscaper, not a gardener. If money is tight you could get just a plan and do the work yourself. But I'm sure with some research and by looking at other people's gardens you could manage it all yourself.

  • 5 years ago

    Oooh a mulch! Sorry I have very little knowledge on gardening other then when I was little I used to help my mum. Most of the garden is filled by sun during the day. I would need a shed and a small patch of lawn for my toddler to play on. Could I build a small wall to help with the washing down of water? X

  • 2 years ago
    1. Plan your design. Decide on the shape. Choose your garden size. Choose native boulders and rocks. Decide on a color scheme. Measure and plan your planting area. ...
    2. Prepare your area.
    3. Create your first layer.
    4. Spread the soil.
    5. Lay your second layer.
    6. Place your plants.
    7. Add the finishing touches.
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