Design an original and fascinating rock garden
When creating a garden , the style to be adopted should be chosen and we know that there are really many types of feasible gardens. One of the options concerns the creation of a rock garden, certainly a fascinating alternative, but not always easily achievable given that it is a type of garden that requires suitable land, a lot of work and adequate space.
In short, it is certainly not the type of garden that can be created behind the house in a residential environment, but with the right precautions it is possible to create a rock garden even if the ground does not have the optimal characteristics. Below we will see together how you can create a habitat suitable for rock plants and grow them in your own garden.The rock garden and its features
Normally the rock garden is the representation, in small, of a mountain and alpine landscape or landscape. It is a cross-section that recalls all the elements of mountain environments, where, if possible, an attempt is made to grow varieties of plants that remember the highest altitude as much as possible. Walking in a rock garden must therefore give the idea of being in another place, which is also many kilometers from the area where we are actually.
Over time, however, things have changed and nowadays the rock garden no longer represents lonesome mountain and alpine landscapes. You can always customize the look according to your tastes, but the ultimate goal is to recreate a landscape and a context that is as natural as possible.
How to plan the creation of a rock garden
Planning the operations of creating a garden is essential to obtain good final results. The biggest mistake that can be made when building a garden of this type is to think that it may be sufficient to place loose stones and mountain plants, or the like, to achieve the desired effect.
Nothing could be more wrong. To get the right natural effect and a result that is also beautiful to look at, and harmonious, a lot of work is needed, which is why the rock garden is not really a garden for everyone, even for the mere fact of having to move stones and earth , even large and in large quantities.
Often for such gardens one must rely on professional gardeners and nurserymen, as well as architects, but it is still possible, at least in part, to make them with the DIY technique, provided one has the necessary knowledge.
The choice of the place in the rock garden
One of the fundamental aspects of a rock garden is the terrain and the place where it will live. Unlike other gardens, where perhaps the steep places must be avoided, or at least not of great importance, the exact opposite occurs in the rock garden. It is very important, in fact, to have a site that is slightly sloping, sunny and partly rocky.
It must also be a place where a natural rainwater runoff occurs. But why this attention for a sloping and steep site? As previously mentioned, this typology comes from the desire to give life to a mountain or alpine landscape, for which the ups and downs, and the sloping paths, within the garden will be of fundamental importance. Making one on a flat terrain is much more difficult,
Rocks and Terrain
Once the suitable place has been identified, and once a valid project has been put on paper, it is first necessary to take care of the land and to select and lay the rocks and stones needed.
The soil must be able to have a fairly good draining power, given also the steep nature that will probably characterize the site, and also have discrete nutrient capacities. Then adding peat and gravel, in different quantities, it will be possible to make useful combinations for various species of plants that the rock garden can accommodate. This always according to the occurrence and the chosen project.
As for the stones, their choice and arrangement must in any case be in line with the environment in which we find ourselves, to ensure maximum integration and a low artificiality of the final result. The stones must therefore be special and as irregular as possible, and above all they must not be worked by hand.
The most suitable stones for rock gardens are sandstone, limestone and tuff.
Plants in the rock garden
The choice of plants is a very large and complex topic to address. A rock garden should contain mountain or alpine plants, but it is clearly not always possible. Much depends on the climate and the sunny conditions that the chosen place has. Humidity, shade, sun, rain are all elements that will characterize our choice of plants, since it will be counterproductive to place plants not suited to the type of climate just to look for a particular effect.
Perennials, alpine plants and purslane plants, these placed inside large stones, can be perfect for a rock garden. They contrast with the ice-colored rocks and are perfect for sunny or south-facing environments. On the contrary, ferns and violets are perfect for north-facing environments. In addition to these plants that will form patches of color, ground cover plants that cover the ground and dwarf shrubs and shrubs and other types of mass plants will clearly be needed.
Where possible it is also advisable to choose trees, to perhaps create shady areas where to place more delicate flowers and plants. The important thing is to use a good number of rustic plants,
Rock gardens ideas & inspiration
In order to recreate as natural an environment as possible within rock gardens, rocks or stones that are not very linear and angular must be used. In this case several irregular blocks of stone have been placed one above the other, the spaces between the rocks have been filled with earth and gravel and the plants have been planted. The end result is a harmonious and beautiful green space to see.
Home side with a very natural looking garden created with stones, plants, flowers, trees and a small water fall. Enchanting.
Water is very relaxing and this idea for a backyard waterfall can help you create a tranquil oasis that is both visually appealing and very refreshing. If you want something more modern, it is advisable to choose a water installation with lighting and water jets.
Rock garden design idea with small pond and waterfall. Enchanting and not very difficult to achieve.
Images :icate.it, guidagiardino.com, homeandlivingdecor.com, houzz.com, marpa.com, ortosemplice.it, photobotanic.com, pinterest.com
