Building a Rockery: Constructing a visually striking, minimal-effort focal point in your outdoor space through rock arrangement
In the world of gardening, a rockery is a captivating feature that adds character and charm to any outdoor space. This article offers valuable tips from landscaper and gardening expert Fiona Jenkins and garden landscape expert Tom Clifford on how to create a beautiful rockery.
Fiona Jenkins, with over 25 years of experience, recommends a few key strategies when stabilising the ground for larger rocks in a rockery. Firstly, she suggests burying the larger rocks, or 'keystones', one-third of their depth in the soil to provide a more authentic look and ensure they stay securely in place. Additionally, she advises adding more drainage, such as old brick pieces or broken roof tiles, to improve the overall drainage of the rockery.
When it comes to planting in your new rockery scheme, Fiona suggests moving the plants around in their pots until you are satisfied with the layout. Once you've found the perfect spot, dig holes deep enough to plant the specimens at the same depth they were in the pot. After planting, firm the soil around the plant to ensure it is secure.
Tom Clifford, another gardening expert, explains that when creating a rockery, you should start with your biggest rocks and place them spread out across the area your rockery will cover. These large stones will act as the foundation for your rockery and create a structure for smaller rocks to be positioned around them.
For medium-sized rocks, Tom advises placing them after the largest rocks, and then spreading topsoil to create planting pockets. A mixture of loam, horticultural grit, and leaf mould makes an excellent choice for growing matter in a rockery.
Tom also recommends combining equal parts of multi-purpose compost with horticultural grit or sand to create a well-draining compost for a rockery. Before laying any compost, he advises removing all weeds and adding a layer of rubble or small stones to improve drainage.
Melanie, another expert, suggests positioning plants in cracks and crevices for a more naturalistic look, and using gravel or small stone to top compost.
A rock garden is a fantastic low-maintenance option for a garden, and you could extend this principle to other areas of your landscaping with a gravel garden layout. In fact, the show garden at the prestigious RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2024, designed according to the principles of MHGD and representing a garden of today's changing climate, was created by a person associated with MHGD (exact name not specified in the provided information).
By following these expert tips, you can create a stunning rockery that will add beauty and character to your garden for years to come. Happy gardening!
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