Many people make rock gardens if they already have a lot of rocks on their land in which case they don't have to source them from elsewhere. If you have an abundance of stone around your land you need to think of something to do with it and creating this type of garden is an ideal way of tidying up a rocky landscape.
It's great fun carefully choosing and arranging the rocks to make it look artistic and stylish.
Try to maintain a naturalistic look when you arrange the stones because exaggeration is never a sign of good taste.
To begin, make a raised bed with rocks and soil. For the raising use large rocks for the bottom, and smaller ones for the top.
This is the time when you can get creative, and arrange the stones as you like them or think they look best.
Basically that's it: now you only have to plant your chosen rock plants. Since they are usually sold as grown plants, there is not much hard work for you to do and all the hard work has already been done in moving and arranging the rocks.
Rock Garden Ideas Books
Rock Garden Ideas
Rocky areas in the yard shouldn't just be left there carelessly: turn these shady and rocky places into beautiful rock gardens! You can make a truly wonderful masterpiece in your garden if you know a little about the plants and you have a good eye for beauty.
When designing a rock garden, selection is very relevant. You don't necessarily have to choose the most rare and stylish plants, after all the most common ones are popular for a reason: they are beautiful and easy to grow.
A rock garden can be a real work of art, admired by everyone who passes by.
Each of the plants that you choose should be chosen for a reason, each of them should have their own role in the group.
Even though these plants are small, they have other qualities that make them stand out and catch the eye.
Rock garden plants
Rock garden plants are more resistant, hardier, and don't need as much water and sun as normal plants and flowers.
Because of this great quality, they can survive in shady areas as well.
There are many types of rock plants to choose from, but here are some points you should consider.
Plants from the group of the Rock Cresses (Aubrietia) are great plants, they like all soil types, and they have beautiful purple flowers.
If you plant these you will see that it almost looks like a purple blanket in bloom. You can plant them near to white Arabis and have a great color effect.
For an even more brilliant contrast, add golden colored Alyssum near these groups. Other plants that fit very well together are the Alpine Wallflowers and the Iberis Sempervirens.
The first one has a deep golden color, while the latter has a soft white one. This combination will look very good no matter how you arrange the plants.
What makes a good rock garden plant?
Rock gardens are all about colors. Choose the colors and the species well. Since this is the most important step it is better to choose a few varieties of the same family of rock plants than it is to choose too many different species.
You can group these representatives close to each other, this way creating the desired picaresque effect. Before you decide the color combination that you want to use for your rock garden, remember that color harmony is not always the best way to go.
Strong contrasts can be more noticeable and more interesting. Be innovative! By choosing two contrasting colors you can make your garden look like a work of art.
The color of the rocks should also be considered when you choose the color of the flowers.
Many people make rock gardens if they already have a lot of rocks on their land in which case they don't have to source them from elsewhere. If you have an abundance of stone around your land you need to think of something to do with it and creating this type of garden is an ideal way of tidying up a rocky landscape.
Rock garden plants are more resistant, hardier, and don't need as much water and sun as normal plants and flowers. 
