How can you make a rock garden in the country with your own hands, rules of creation and examples
Not all owners of summer cottages have the time or inclination to dig the ground to turn a plot into a warm and cozy zone. Arranging a rock garden with your own hands in the country is an ideal option, since a rocky flower garden does not require special care and fits into any landscape. Before you start creating a unique corner in the yard, it is recommended to carefully study all the intricacies of arranging rockeries.
What is rockery
Rocaille is a composition used to decorate country houses or summer cottages. The base of the structure is made of stones. Additional elements are flowers, conifers, evergreens. A rocky flower garden should not be confused with a rockery. To create the latter, similar materials are used, but here the emphasis is on rare plant species. In rock gardens, on the contrary, the main role is assigned to stones.
Main varieties
Rockeries are conventionally divided into several varieties. Temporary - compositions that are created for a specific time. These are usually flower beds with plants that can not withstand the cold - new green elements should be planted every spring. Stable - rock gardens with evergreen or coniferous shrubs. Editable - compositions in which new elements are constantly introduced. Stones in such flower beds are small, so it is easy to change the shape as needed.
Form
The peculiarity of rock gardens is that it is allowed to give any shape to a stone flower garden. Preference is given to oval or round compositions. The main thing is that the garden looks natural, clear straight lines are not welcome. If space allows, it is recommended to create an asymmetrical composition. Such a rock garden looks natural, combined with flower beds and decorative elements of the garden landscape.
Location
Before creating a composition, it is recommended that you take the time to select a location. Rockeries are usually located near the house. It is recommended to consider the height and diameter of the plants to be grown. If preference is given to tall conifers, then it is better to place the composition away from flower beds.
Style
When planning the creation of a rockery, it is recommended to determine in advance which style to give preference. It all depends on the plants used for the composition. The main types of stony beds:
- European. For cultivation, plants are used that feel comfortable in regions with a temperate climate.
- English. Differs in restraint and strict style. Usually wormwood or conifers are used, often these plants are supplemented with cereals.The emphasis is on greenery.
- Japanese. The main role is assigned to stones, plants are used minimally.
Most often, rocky flower beds are made in the Japanese style - the composition ideally complements the summer cottage and requires minimal maintenance.
Layout Features
To form a rock composition, you will need to spend time creating a plan, drawing its main elements and choosing a shape. There will be no problems with the arrangement - for the simplest flower beds, only stones and plants are needed.
Rocks
For a rocky garden, large rocks, small cobblestones, pebbles are used. Thanks to the variety of shapes and sizes, the composition will look natural. It is recommended to stick to one color palette, although a combination of 2-3 shades is allowed.
In rockery, the rough stones in relief have a natural appearance. If there is a stream or a fountain in a rocky garden, it is better to take smooth pebbles or profiled rocks.
Selection of plants
It is recommended to use different types of plants for rockeries - shrubs, conifers (spruces and dwarf pines, junipers). Barberry or Chinese lilac are exquisite in composition. If there is not enough color and the rock garden looks dull without bright accents, plant rhododendrons. It is worth supplementing rockeries with bulbous plants, herbaceous perennials (hosts, primroses). It is also recommended to plant cereal grasses in rock gardens. The main thing is not to use aggressive grains that grow quickly.
How to do it yourself
There will be no special difficulties with the creation of rock gardens, but only in the case of strict observance of the rules and requirements. Before arranging a rock garden, it is recommended to arm yourself with knowledge that will help you avoid mistakes.
The subtleties of choosing a place
It is important to make sure that the rock garden is located in a comfortable corner of the site, make sure that there are no drafts - cold gusts of wind are dangerous for some plants. It is not necessary to have a rock garden on a plain. Hills and grooves are considered the ideal relief for a composition that emphasizes naturalness.
How to make a plan correctly
It is worth starting to work with drawing up a plan. Clearly outline the boundaries of the rock garden, draw all the lines in detail. Arrange the plants, taking into account their size - put tall conifers in the background, low-growing shrubs in the foreground. After drawing up a plan, mark the rockery on a pre-selected piece of land. Use stakes and string to mark.
Preparing the site of the future rock garden
The first step in laying out a rock garden is weeding. It is recommended to remove the top layer of soil by 15-20 cm. After removing the turf, dig up the ground, carefully select the roots of weeds. If necessary, treat the soil with herbicidal preparations.
The next step is soil drainage, especially if a rocky flower garden is located on a plain, there is a risk of flooding with groundwater. Fine crushed stone, pebbles, broken brick are suitable for filling the bottom of the pit. If the rock garden is located on a hill, drainage is not required - even after a heavy downpour, the water will leave without harming the plants.
If the site is often visited by "guests" - moles or shrews, you will need to put a protective layer over the drainage, otherwise the diggers will definitely choose a rock structure. At the bottom of the garden, place a wire mesh with fine mesh, which will not allow unexpected guests to disturb the surface of the composition or undermine the roots of plants.
It is worth completing the preparation of the site by filling the pit with ready-made soil. Favor light mixtures that combine:
- Garden soil;
- black land;
- sand;
- good humus.
It is allowed to supplement the mixture with a small amount of clay, ash, charcoal (it all depends on the plants used in the composition).
Laying of stones
To give a solid look to the rock garden, it is best to lay the stones in a single layer. Make sure that round rocks are not located next to corner stones. Sandstone or granite are suitable for masonry. Lay a "pillow" around the perimeter of the rockery, which does not allow the stones to float or settle. Use sand and gravel for the substrate, it is recommended to tamp the mixture well and let it harden for 3-5 days.
The stones should be driven about halfway into the ground. If there are gaps between the floor and the stone elements, fill them with rubble. It is better to seal undersized stones with a solution.
Common DIY Mistakes
The main mistake made when creating rock gardens is the chaotic arrangement of stones. Such a composition looks like a pile of stones that has nothing to do with a flower garden. Another mistake is to plant plants without using drainage and special soil.Excess water will lead to rotting of the root system with the subsequent death of the aerial part. Poor soil composition will also negatively affect the condition of plants - trees and shrubs will grow and develop poorly and lose their healthy appearance.
It is also not recommended to rush to plant plants. After filling the rock pit with soil, it is better to wait 2-3 weeks - this time is enough for the earth to settle. Before planting, level the relief - add more soil mix or remove the elevations.
Often, when arranging rock gardens, they make a mistake when planting fast-growing ground cover plants (sedums, sedum, phlox). Without proper care (frequent pruning and plant formation), they will grow quickly, making a rock garden look sloppy and neglected.
Interesting changes
It is not necessary to combine only stones and plants in rock gardens. It is recommended to supplement the rock garden with decorative elements, plants of rare or unusual species. The composition in the form of a rocky slope with rare perennials looks interesting.
With a waterfall
To create a waterfall in rockeries, you will need to make a rise - a pile of stones over which water will flow effectively. It is advisable to make a reservoir from below, plant aquatic plants in it. Water is supplied to the top of the slide by a pump or medium pump. It is recommended to install a filter to avoid water contamination. For a foundation pit - buy a special tank or disguise an ordinary trough (old bathtub) with stones.
On the slope
The rock composition located on a gentle slope looks impressive. The simplest option is 4-5 terraces, for the formation of which large boulders are used.Pour soil between the rocks, in which the plants are planted. The floor is also assigned the role of a dry solution that strengthens the elements of the composition. When creating a rock garden on a slope, you should not emphasize the boundaries - blurred contours look more natural. It is recommended to supplement the flower garden with an artificial "mountain stream". A rocky garden on a hill will look no less impressive, complemented by a pond with stone steps.
With conifers
The most popular plants for rock gardening are decorative evergreens. Shrubs and trees have many advantages over herbaceous perennials or flowering plants:
- do not require special care;
- Grow rapidly;
- suitable for all shapes and types of rock gardens;
- decorative look in winter or summer.
When planting conifers, it is important to adhere to the basic rule - do not combine plants of different heights. Fast-growing trees are best planted in the background, otherwise they will kill stunted perennials. It is also recommended to plant tall conifers in the center, surrounded by several rows of lower plants.
Basic rules of care
Plants planted in a rock garden are easy to care for, especially if weed roots are removed when digging. Care of rockeries consists of regularly loosening the soil under the plants, feeding trees and shrubs, and timely watering. When growing conifers, it is recommended to prune them periodically.
Thorough coverage of the soil with backfill will help simplify maintenance.It is allowed to use stones of different colors, although it is recommended to give preference to natural shades - gray or white. Too bright dumping looks unnatural and is able to negate all efforts, turning the composition into a flower garden.
It is also recommended to regularly care for the stones, keep them clean - remove moss, periodically renew the spill layer.
Circuit examples
If you are afraid that it will not be possible to equip rockeries yourself, it is recommended to use ready-made schemes. For beginners, a simple version of an oval or rectangular rock flower garden is suitable. Place small stones around the perimeter, place a large rock in the center of the back side. Plant a juniper on both sides of the central stone, in front - a cotoneaster. Daylilies or stonecrops are near the side faces. In the foreground, a Carpathian bell and a badan.
Another option is with conifers. The shape of the rock garden is an irregular circle. Plant thuja and dwarf spruce in the background. Place intermediate forsythia and cowberry between the trees. In the foreground are several species of Corydalis. Around the perimeter there are stones of a rounded shape.
Rockery is a skillful composition that fits perfectly into any landscape, emphasizes the individuality of the site and helps to hide the flaws of the relief. You will not have to face any special difficulties when creating a rocky flower garden, but only if you understand all the intricacies of it in advance. Another rule is to take your time when laying out the garden and diligently carry out each stage of the work.