Rockery ideas: Beautiful and natural solutions for small, corner and pond rock gardens
by
Checkatrade

Rockeries can add variety and style to an otherwise plain garden, making them an excellent choice for anyone looking to make their garden stand out.

Unsure where to begin? Our rockery garden ideas will help you to find the perfect rock garden for your home. We cover ideas for small, corner, modern and pond rockeries, plus so much more.

With visually appealing textures, sizes and colours, picking the right rocks and pebbles is important. Interspersing stunning plants throughout the rockery will also create a fantastic rock garden feature to be proud of.

Whether you are looking to increase your outer home aesthetics, for rockery layout ideas, for tips on building a small rockery, or need ways to add life to a dull garden, we have you covered. So, read on for more ideas and inspiration.

Plant ideas

To create a stunning rockery, it is essential to include plants in your final design. You can use most plants for this purpose, but the best plants are those that can survive with little water. Consider the following plant rockery ideas when building your rock garden:

• Succulents
• Crocuses
• Thyme
• Sedum
• Miniature daffodils
• Lithodora
• Dwarf rhododendrons

A gardener can also help with this decision. View our guide to gardener prices to find out more.

Small rockery ideas

Do you have a small garden with no free space? Don’t despair, a rockery can be built in the smallest of spaces. Use the below small rockery ideas to begin your miniature rock garden today:

• Construct your rockery in small containers and display it on a small table.
  

  

• Choose tiny plants like succulents or cacti to save space.
• Instead of large, uneven rocks use smaller, smooth pebbles. This will not only take up less space but can create a neat, tidy rockery.
• Instead of building a rockery, plant succulents up a garden fence or wall.

Simple rockery ideas

Rockeries don’t need to be difficult or time-consuming to build. For anyone who doesn’t enjoy gardening but still wants to create a beautiful, outside feature, consider these simple rockery ideas:

• Don’t worry about individually plating flowers or plants, simply scatter seeds over your rockery area and wait to see what grows.
• Quickly fill in spaces between rocks and plants by using small pebbles.
• Use moss for an easy to maintain ground cover.

Garden rockery ideas

Installing a rockery in your garden can add colour, dimension and visual interest. For garden rockery ideas, try the following tips to help you achieve the perfect outside focal point:

• If you are lucky enough to have a slope in your outside space, consider building a rockery spread over this with different tiers.
• Add a variety of plants for diverse colours and shapes.
• Look into different shapes, colours and sizes of rocks.

For larger garden features a landscaper will be able to help. Our garden landscaping cost guide is an excellent way to learn more on the options available and prices.

Small corner rockery ideas

It may seem like you don’t have space for a rockery in your garden. But, our small corner rockery ideas can help you make the most of any unused corners.

• Fill in awkward corners with tiered rocks.
• Use a range of rocks and plants for a stunning visual effect.
• Add a small waterfall or water feature. Especially if your corner rockery is built on a slope or tier.

Pond rockery ideas

Incorporating a pond into your rock garden can make for an awe-inspiring garden feature. Water, plants and rocks work well together and by using the following pond rockery ideas you can maximise the potential of your garden:

• Introduce a water feature to your pond, such as a fountain. For more information on water features and their costs, please see our informative water feature cost guide.
• Ensure any plants used work well in damp environments.
• Consider setting your pond and rockery at an angle to create a miniature waterfall.

Modern rockery ideas

Rock gardens can be personalised to fit most styles and themes. With so much choice, finding the right modern rockery ideas can be tricky. If your garden is perfectly landscaped and best fits a modern design scheme, consider the following ways to ensure your rockery works well:

• Look into Japanese rock gardens and incorporate shrubs and small trees into your rockery.
• Use similar plants or colours for a cohesive and modern feel.
• Consider using slate or smooth pebbles instead of uneven rocks. This will ensure your rockery is tidy and minimalist.