How to Plant in Rocks

Rock gardens are used to fill hard-to-maintain regions of the yard, as well as prevent soil erosion on steep inclines.

Planting flowers in a rocky garden or rock-filled bed is a great way to utilize sloping or naturally rocky soil. Rock gardens are easy to maintain and offer an abundance of visual interest. A wide variety of plants -- such as Dianthus, Phlox and even miniature roses -- are used to fill the area after the rocks have been placed in an aesthetically pleasing fashion.

Things You'll Need

• Low-growing plants
• Rocks
• Standard shovel
• Small shovel

Instructions

1. Choose the plants for your rock garden. Plants that grow close to the ground and clump together work well in most rocky environments.

2. Choose the right location. According to the Montgomery County Cooperative Extension, slopes and uneven terrain are ideal for creating a rock garden.

3. Clear the area of debris and the top 6 inches of soil.

4. Design the layout of the rock garden. Rock gardens are designed to look natural. To achieve this appearance, clump rocks in masses with sporadic spaces in-between.

5. Set rocks into the ground so that 1/3 is buried in the soil. Use small but similar rocks as mulch.

6. Use a small shovel to plant the flowers, perennials or foliage plants in the spaces between the rocks.

Tips & Warnings

• Colorado State University Extension asserts that perennials or ground-cover plants are most commonly used in gardens that incorporate rocks. Do not choose fast-growing plants, as they take over the area in a short period of time.

• Create a cohesive look by using one kind of rock; native rocks blend best with the environment. In addition, MCCE suggests placing the rocks so that their grain points in the same direction.

References

• Colorado State University Extension; Rock Garden Plants; J.E. Klett, et al.; July 2005
• Montgomery County Cooperative Extension: The Rock Garden at the Montgomery County Learning Gardens