How to Design Rocks into your Landscape

Use rocks for effects

Rocks and boulders can be powerful design elements in the landscape design. They also require no maintenance!

Instructions

1. Using rocks, boulders and stone as a design element and a practical landscaping material not only looks beautiful, but can be functional as well.

2. 

   Odd numbers always look best in design. Use your rocks or boulders in singles or groups of three or five.

3. Use a limited palette of color and texture. Too many different kinds of rock will look messy. And if you want to blend in with surrounding land, consider using local rocks. Please avoid big rocks evenly spaced like three-dimensional polka-dots. They can look somewhat ridiculous. If you want a highly controlled look, then arrange your rocks in artistic patterns that flow with the overall garden design.

4. 

   Use a large, interestingly shaped boulder or large rock grouping as a focal point. You can soften the rocks by planting around them. For a southwestern look, consider using succulents, cacti and other desert plants. A woodsy feel can be created with shrubs, small trees and clambering vines. Ornamental grasses always look natural around the base of rocks.

5. 

   Rocks can serve as rustic furniture, to mark a corner, line a pathway or to paint your house number on at your entry. They can make a natural looking fountain or divide one area from another in the form of a formal or informal wall. In the form of a riverbed rocks and stones can meander through your landscape dividing one space from another while functioning as a helpful drainage line during heavy rain.

6. 

   Gravel can be used as mulch and is especially beautiful and functional in a cactus garden. Gravel gardens can be made in colors so they work as art all by themselves. Or gravel can spill out as a path for walking. Asian gardens look peaceful when you use smooth rounded river rock. And fountains can be accented with textured gravel.

7. 

   These are just a few ideas you can apply when using rocks for design in your garden. Rock and stone is easy to care for, long lasting and can be strikingly beautiful when used well. It can even be utilitarian at the same time. And it's a totally eco-friendly, natural material!

Resources

• Dry river bed design
• Cactus and Succulent Garden
• How to build a waterfall
• Landscapes designed with rocks
• Landscaping information