Backyard Rock Gardens Building A Rock Garden

How to Build a Rock Garden

Clear off a section of land. The first step to building your stone garden is to make some space for it within your lawn or yard. ...
Plot Your Design. ...
Choose Your Rocks and Lay Down the First Layer. ...
Add in the Soil. ...
Lay Down the Second Layer of Rocks. ...
Planting the Plants.

How do you build a rock garden?

Instructions

Build the First Course. Clear the area of grass or other organic material, if necessary. ...
Add the Second Course. Plan the second course of stones. ...
Select Plants for Your Rock Garden. Start your plant selection by choosing a color scheme that will work well with your stone. ...
Plant Your Rock Garden.

How deep should a rock garden be?

The suggested depth of coverage varies according to the size of the individual stones. If the stone size is 1/2-inch or less, the suggested depth is 2-inches. Stones that are 3/4-inch to 1-inch should have a depth of about 3-inches. Stones that are 1-inch or larger should have a depth of 4-inches.

How much does it cost to build a rock garden?

Landscaping rock projects cost an average of $600 to $700. Homeowners may pay as little as $460 or as much as $1,000 to purchase and install medium to large rocks, stones, and boulders in their yards.

How do you build a small rockery garden?

How to Build a Rockery in 9 Steps

Step One: Plan Your Rockery. ...
Step Two: Mark Out the Area. ...
Step Three: Prepare the Space. ...
Step Four: Place Rubble Over the Area. ...
Step Five: Place Landscaping Fabric Over the Area. ...
Step Six: Start Adding Your Stones. ...
Step Seven: Add Smaller Rocks. ...
Step Eight: Make Compost Mix.

How do you make a rock garden look natural?

Promoting the weathering of your rocks will give the rock garden a natural look. Weathered stone looks as if it had always been there. Also, stick to rocks that look the same in texture, color, and form. If you use rocks of similar appearance throughout your rock garden, it will have a more natural look.

Where can I get free rocks?

Shop Craigslist and Freecycle

Craigslist and Freecycle can be a good source for free rocks, but you'll have to check both sites regularly and be quick on the draw when an offer comes up.

Should I put landscape fabric under rocks?

Landscape fabric is really only good for one application. This is when you want to use stone (such as river stone or decomposed granite) instead of mulch. We've installed a good bit of river rock in some of our landscape jobs and we always use a geo-textile landscape fabric that allows some water penetration.

What is the cheapest rock for landscaping?

What is the cheapest rock for landscaping? Crushed gravel and pea gravel tend to be the cheapest landscape rocks.

What do you put under a rock garden?

Rock beds are low-maintenance -- though never no-maintenance -- when done right, and doing it right involves placing a barrier between the rocks and your soil. The barrier of choice is usually heavy-duty landscape fabric, but tarps or other types of plastic can sometimes be an acceptable substitute.

How much does a dump truck load of gravel cost?

The cost of gravel ranges from $10 to $50 per ton, $15 to $75 per yard, $1 to $3 per square foot, or $1,350 per truck load depending on the rock type, volume, and travel distance. Delivery is included up to 10 miles. Gravel spreading costs $12 per yard or $46 per hour.

How much is a truckload of rock?

How Much Is a Truckload of Rocks? Ordering a truckload of rocks has a wide range of costs, depending on the rock type, rock size, and the size of the truck. Assuming that a truck delivers roughly 90 cubic feet of rocks, expect to pay between $2,700 to $18,000.

How much area does a ton of rock cover?

One Ton of Rock Covers: 240 square feet - 1" deep. 120 square feet - 2" deep.

How do you make a rock garden without weeds?

An option is to use the plastic, but leave large holes in it around the bushes. Alternatively you can combine the underlayments, placing landscaping fabric around the bushes and then covering the rest of the rock garden with heavy plastic.

What are the best plants for a rockery?

12 plants for a rock garden

Aubretia.
Trailing bellflower.
Saxifrage.
Gentian.
Gypsophila cerastioides.
Candytuft.
Erodium × variabile.
Lithodora diffusa 'Heavenly Blue'

Can you build a rockery in the shade?

Although rockeries are often located in full sunlight, you can build your rockery in partial shade. Select plants accordingly and consider the growing needs for each plant.

How do you get rid of garden rocks?

How to Dispose of Rocks

Rent a Roll Off Dumpster. Renting a dumpster is a simple way to dispose of rocks and gravel. ...
Take It to a Landscape Supplier. If your rocks are clean and in good shape, you may be able to dispose of them through a local landscaper or landscaping supply store. ...
Use It in Your Own Landscaping.

What can I do with garden rocks?

Creative Ways to Reuse Rocks for Landscaping Projects

Create a Fire Pit. You can create a backyard fire pit with the materials you've already been using to remove the rocks from your yard. ...
Build a New Retaining Wall. ...
Add a Garden Walkway.

Is collecting rocks illegal?

The Necessity of Permission or Consent. When considering the legalities of rock, mineral, or fossil collecting, the foremost principle is that a collector cannot legally take rocks, minerals, or fossils without the permission or consent of whoever has a legal right to those rocks, mineral, or fossils.

Are rocks better than mulch?

Rocks are great at suffocating weeds and show a better success rate at weed-prevention than mulch. Stone cover is perfect for low-water gardens and landscapes. However, stones aren't the perfect solution for gardens that may get a lot of sun because they can hold more heat than mulch.

Can I take rocks from public land?

Rocks and Minerals

Rocks, minerals and semiprecious gemstones may be collected on public lands managed by the BLM without charge or permit as long as: • The specimens are for personal use and are not collected for commercial purposes or bartered to commercial dealers.