Landscaping Design - An Idea on Landscaping Your Yard
About Landscaping Ideas for Your Yard
Rock Gardens
An excellent idea for landscaping your yard would be to build a rock garden. This landscaping idea is easy to accomplish, does not cost much, and embellishes any landscape be it flat or sloped. Rock gardens can be built in large areas or small, depending on how much space you have in your landscape. Consider this a very rewarding idea for landscaping your yard where you will have the chance to include a manmade element that will look totally natural. Step 1: Choosing Landscaping Area and Rocks
The first thing to do when building a rock garden in your landscape is to choose the area you want to work on (for example, patch of grass near your fence) and dig it up. After you have established your working area and cleared it, you are then ready to lay your first course of rocks and soil.
Rocks can be found at any construction site where you might be allowed to take them for free, or you can go to a nursery where they are sold by weight. Rocks can be purchased by the pallet or by the piece. If you choose to handpick the rocks it will cost you more. Bear in mind, rocks are heavy whether they’re small or large, so it’s advisable to use a dolly or have the nursery deliver them for you. When choosing rocks for landscaping your yard, make sure they all have the same texture, color and form as it will give a smoother and more natural look. It is advisable to choose softer rocks rather than harder ones in order to achieve a natural appearance in your rock garden. The reason being is that softer rocks are permeable and therefore receptive to the growth of lichens and mosses that give a weathered look.
Step 2: Arranging Rocks
The next step for building a rock garden in the landscape of your yard is to arrange the rocks. Stay away from patterns, consistency, and equal distribution; remember you want your rock garden to look as natural as possible. Place the rocks tightly side by side and make sure they are firmly grounded in the soil. If the rocks are stratified, place the rocks together so that the strata lines are in the same direction. If you would like your rock garden to be elevated above the surrounding ground, place your first course of rocks and soil then build up on it with the more attractive rocks on top.
Step 3: Arranging Plants
The last step with this rock garden idea for your landscape is to select some plants. When doing so you need to consider the amount of sunlight your rock garden receives as well as different plant sizes, textures and colors. A few plants are enough, after all it is a rock garden and you want it to look like a group of rocks with plants popping up from the cracks. After choosing your plants, you will then need to prepare the soil according to your plants requirements, usually plants that grow between rocks like well-drained soil.
As with arranging the plants, here again, randomness is key. Planting in rows or sequence is boring and unnatural, so choose different spots to make the most out of this landscaping idea. Finally, add a few small rocks here and there for a finished look.
