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When it comes time to create a backyard that’s both beautiful and practical, you can’t do much better than sourcing materials from Mother Nature. Incorporating elements from the local landscape into a rock garden will lend authenticity and originality to outdoor decor.
By Nicole Shein
Updated on Jul 24, 2023 7:08 PM EDT
0 minute read
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Why Rock Gardens?
Drought is an ongoing and critical issue in the U.S. According to NASA, fully one-third of the nation’s acreage is experiencing at least moderate drought and some 53 million people live in drought-affected areas.
Homeowners can help combat drought by xeriscaping. Xeriscapes are landscapes that require little water besides what the sky provides, often incorporating native plants. Reducing the land’s reliance on rain is a smart move for anyone who cares about the Earth. Rock gardens are an easy, sometimes plant-free way to give any property a little extra personality, while also being environmentally friendly. Read on for rock garden ideas that are as effective in arid areas as they are attractive.
Bright Hues and Rough-Hewn Rocks
Let’s say there’s lots of space elsewhere for patios, pergolas, and gazebos, with plenty of sloping lawn left over. Why not turn the area into a cheerful, colorful landscape? This rock garden idea pairs broad splashes of brightly hued flowers with the bold use of craggy, rugged rock. To achieve the effect, style this space like a sprawling terrace garden, with alternating sections of ground-cover plants—flowering thyme, phlox, and sedums—and wide, relatively flat rocks that can stand in as stepping stones when it’s weeding time.
A Petite Little Pond
Nothing adds pizzazz to a backyard quite like a pint-sized pond full of fish and floating lily pads. Whether you stock koi for neo-Asian appeal or raise tilapia for Taco Tuesday, surround the pond with stones in a wide variety of sizes. Large, chunky rocks interspersed with smaller pebbles will delineate its perimeter—and discourage young visitors from wading. For a more dramatic effect, seek out Mexican or Caribbean beach pebbles.
Related: Make a Splash! 10 Stunning Backyard Ponds to Enhance Any Landscape
Gravel in the Garden
You’ve heard of stopping to smell the roses; now get ready for sitting to sniff the snapdragons. A diminutive, decorative bench tucked among flat rocks that are flush with the ground gives visual appeal to an otherwise ho-hum flower bed. Here, the plants take a supporting role, yielding to the contrast between rich, dark mulch and small multi-colored stones. A few flowering bushes in a variety of heights and shades of green are the only flora that’s needed.
Related:
Pass on Grass: 7 Reasons to Landscape with Gravel
Divide and Conquer a Large Lawn
Homebuyers love the idea of a large yard, but once they’ve signed on the dotted line, that lawn can be daunting. They might wonder what to do with such a great expanse of green (besides cursing how quickly the grass grows, that is.) If it isn’t level enough to play croquet, consider dividing the lawn into discrete areas that will serve different purposes. Think herb garden, butterfly or bee garden, even beehives or a chicken coop. Use large, boulder-like rocks to set these spaces apart and save you money on pavers.
Rock That Walk
Rock garden ideas often exemplify the “more is more” philosophy, cramming in as many attention-getting elements as possible. Not so with this minimalist row of stones edging a sidewalk. Just as a ribbon embellishes a dress hem, this narrow border of smooth pebbles running parallel to the walkway is sure to draw the eye. Any deep-green, leafy plant works well to complete this clean, asymmetrical style. (A row of low-water ornamental grasses, vibrant tiger lilies, or gladioli would be a stunning choice, too.)
An Otherworldly Atmosphere
As night falls, it gradually alters the entire vibe of an outdoor living area. Anyone who entertains after the sun has set, or who simply loves to sit in the waning light and unwind, will get double the pleasure from their property. Look into illuminated rock garden ideas to create an enchanting evening-scape. Here, hefty rocks blend into the background during the day and then transform into an eerily beautiful moonscape in the light of these softly glowing outdoor orb lights (available at The Home Depot).
Stone Pairs Perfectly with Succulents
Residents of drought-affected areas use inorganic materials in much greater quantities than their eastern-U.S. counterparts, of course. Here, the many multicolored pebbles function like Lebowski’s rug, really tying together the natural and manmade elements of this xeriscape. A solitary palm tree, a few widely spaced succulents, and a low stone wall come together in a balanced, aesthetically appealing tableau that’s no less lovely than a grassy lawn or a garden in bloom.
Related:
14 of the Best Plants for Your Drought-Tolerant Garden
Stone Steps Elevate an Outdoor Space
A sloping yard can be a nuisance. It’s tricky to mow and challenging to garden—and all the soccer balls end up in the same downhill spot. Bi-level backyards, however, are super for entertaining, playing games, or grilling up a feast on a sun-drenched Sunday afternoon. Define the split-level look with an elevated design (literally!). Wide, irregular stone steps both separate and connect the two distinct spaces.
A Thoroughly Modern Rock Garden
Here’s a rock garden idea for folks who never, ever colored outside the lines as a kid or who consider Marie Kondo their role model. With only three main elements—precisely pruned shrubs that look like giant green Rubik’s cubes; oversized square pavers, and a tidy rectangle of monochromatic stones—the design is simple, but its overall effect is stunning. Choosing marble chips instead of stones makes this minimalist composition next-level.
Country-Garden Charm
Although it winds its meandering way through an assortment of cheerful blossoms and stately boulders, this garden path is also straightforward. That’s due to the midsized slate chips strewn across its surface. Horizontally-oriented rock is just what’s wanted for a charming footpath, one that might lead to a wishing well or a couple of wrought-iron cafe chairs.
A River Rocks Through It
Thanks to its gently curving lines and seaweed-like tufts of foliage, this broad border brings to mind a meandering river or a rocky point at the ocean’s edge. Either way, it’s wonderfully evocative, and its resemblance to a body of water makes it a remarkable example of xeriscaping. Moreover, it helps cut back on lawn maintenance and is sure to catch the eye of visitors, pizza delivery people, or anyone who pulls their vehicle into the driveway.
Keep It Simple (with) Stones
This rather expansive rock bed serves the same purpose as the velvet background in a jewelry case: reflecting attention right back to the exquisite objects on display. Gardeners who specialize in growing rare plants could use this technique to make certain their prize specimens are appropriately appreciated. Whether the exhibited items are unusual plants, notable rocks, or even manmade treasures like sculptures, a simple surface of stones—smooth pebbles, snowy-white pea gravel, or chunky creek rocks—will set them off to their best advantage.
Related:
Entertain the Whole Family at Home with 10 DIY Lawn Games
Small Format Flair
Choosing the right rock accent might require some comparison shopping. If carpeting a large section, go with less-expensive gravel and buy in bulk. For a smaller space abutting the front steps or surrounding the mailbox, check out decorative landscaping material. The parti-colored stones shown here are pretty, albeit fairly tame. Artists and dreamers who want dramatic rock garden ideas might try polished black pebbles or moonlike lava stones to add interest to an otherwise ordinary area.
Think Inside the Box
Art buffs who admire the abstract, geometric paintings of
Piet Mondrian
might be drawn to a stylized lawn. Unlike landscapes that incorporate—and emulate—the surrounding terrain’s natural contours, this design offers a deliberately boxy composition. Yet even the strictest layout still allows for creativity. Choose either contrasting or complementary materials to fill each section for divergent (but equally striking) effects. Select stones in a variety of sizes and foliage with a mix of heights to create your “lawn-drian” masterpiece.
Channel Southwestern Culture
Evoking the spirit of the sunny southwest is easy. Step 1: Purchase an adobe-style home. Step 2: In the forecourt, arrange a selection of succulents, a few hot-pepper plants, and some hardy grasses. Step 3: Finish the Southwestern look with plenty of small stones; warm earth tones ranging from buff to burnt sienna will look the best. Step 4: Cook up a big batch of frijoles charros, crack open some cold ones, and throw open your door to the company of your closest friends.
