What is a Rock Garden?

At its best, a rock garden is a subtle mingling of plants in a natural setting quite different from the miscellaneous collection of stones sometimes seen with a few plants scattered amongst them. The goal is not to produce a quick effect or color in all seasons, but rather a setting for a myriad of low, compact plants that seem to enjoy the growing conditions provided by the rocks. This can be moist and cool, or hot and dry. In a small space, a rock garden allows one to grow a great variety of perennials, low shrubs, and even some bulbs and annuals. Rock Garden on Display A sloping ground offers a good place for a rock garden at the same time, offering erosion control with the beauty of the plants. Some plants will thrive in hot, sun-baked, shallow soil, while others enjoy the cool, deep pockets between the rocks. In a larger plot, paths and stepping stones can be utilized. A pool can be a valuable addition as well. The rocks themselves can be those that were present at the site or ...  more

It is not just a garden with rocks but actually it was meant to be gardening with plants that are best suited for rocky conditions. They also call it alpine gardening. It has now evolved into a new garden trend where anyone can create a rock garden in their landscape and use plants that are not necessarily found in mountainous regions but are small enough to grow between rocks. The rocks and the plants accent each other. Types of “rock gardens” A rock garden can be anywhere or anything that you want it to be. There is the traditional rock garden, rock walls, and paths. How to create your own traditional rock garden: Choose a location that can be big enough to not only have plants but rocks as well. Decide if you would like a sunny or a shady garden. And have a design or plan in mind. Choose plants that will be suitable for your sun requirements. You can choose any size rocks, but it is best to mix sizes of rocks to give the garden depth. Large boulders and small stones should be used ...  more

A rock garden is a garden which is designed around rocks. Some rock gardens are installed in naturally rocky areas, taking advantage of the natural landscape rather than trying to suppress it. Others are built around a single existing rock feature, or gardeners may import rocks to their gardens for the express purpose of building a rock garden. Rock gardens are also known as rockeries or alpine gardens, and they are especially popular in regions where water availability is limited. The tradition of building rock gardens is Asian in origin. Asian rock gardens are an important part of the tradition of aesthetics in Asian art, with each rock and plant being carefully and thoughtfully placed, and such gardens were often attached to monasteries and wealthy homes. In the 17th century, the rock garden reached Europe, and European gardeners started devising their own versions. In the Japanese rock garden, also sometimes called a Zen garden, there are almost no plants at all. Instead, a wide ...  more

"A rock garden is an environment or an atmosphere that is specifically (from my client's perspective) created for themselves," says Laddie Flock, owner of Natural Rock Formations, a company that has been in business for 17 years and has experience in all different styles and themes of rock gardens. Natural Rock Formations is one of the largest distributors of natural stone products on the Pacific coast and has been featured in many publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal to Landscape and Irrigation magazine. Their website can be found at www.natrok.com.  more

"A rock garden is an environment or an atmosphere that is specifically (from my client's perspective) created for themselves," says Laddie Flock, owner of Natural Rock Formations, Inc., a company that has been in business for 18 years and has experience in all different styles and themes of rock gardens. Natural Rock Formations, Inc. is one of the largest distributors of natural stone products on the Pacific coast and has been featured in many publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal to Landscape and Irrigation magazine. The online encyclopedia Wikipedia.com, describes a rock garden as: "A type of garden that features extensive use of rocks or stones, along with plants native to rocky or alpine environmentsThe usual form of a rock garden is a pile of rocks, large and small, aesthetically arranged, and with small gaps between, where the plants will be rooted Some rock gardens are designed and built to look like natural outcrops of bedrock. Stones are aligned to suggest a ...  more