How to Build a Stone Wall in Your Garden

Stone is an exciting and popular medium that's getting a lot of exposure in gardens these days. You can edge a flowerbed or garden in stones and rocks, or you can build an entire wall to serve as your planting site. Weeds grow through rocks, so you can plants and herbs for a nice touch. Try a few of these tips to build a stone planter wall in your garden.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Stakes
• String
• Small trowel
• Tamper
• Spade
• Ivy or other plants
• Herbs

1. Choose rocks and stones that are flat and fit in with the rest of your landscape. Bricks can also be used for this stone planting wall. Stone quarries are good places to look for flatter rocks.

2. Make the soil that will be used in the wall from compost and good planting soil. Mix in some gravel to allow for proper drainage.

3. Insert the stakes where you want you wall to begin and end and run a string between them to mark out your wall. Dig a trench, about four inches deep along the string and fill it with sand or gravel. Tamp the base so that it is firm and stable.

4. Fit the rocks together over the base, leaving about an inch or so between them. Cover each layer of rocks with about an inch of the soil mix. Stagger the rocks as you place them. Leave bigger spaces for larger plants. Finish the top with the rest of your soil, where you will plant more plants.

5. Tuck plants and herbs in the spaces. Fill in extra spots with more soil and tamp it in. Push with your fingers or the trowel to get them in as far as you can. Water from the top down, letting the water roll down the wall.