Create a rock garden

Pebbles in your rock garden, make your compound look good as long as you choose the right plants. PHOTOS by Rachel Mabala and Betty Ndagire

What you need to know:

Beauty. Conventional gardens with just plants look nice. However, if you add either gravel or pebbles in the garden, you will see the difference they will make

Rock gardens are gaining popularity for home owners who need to add variety to their landscape and do not want to incur huge costs for maintenance of their compounds.

Kristelle Nakimuli, a horticulturist in Nakawa, says nowadays, home owners look out for things that make their yard or gardens stand out by trying a few rocks including big ones and small ones.
“Creating a rock garden is one of the most fun and artistic forms of gardening. I always tell my clients that on their first attempt to make these rock gardens, they should try not to think big, imagining that they can make a rock garden in a day.”

She adds that when creating these gardens, you need to find rocks in different sizes. So, that once you place them, they leave spaces big enough between for your plants to grow.

“These small rocks can be used as a form of mulch or weed barrier that does not need to be renewed. For the flat rocks, they can be arranged to create low walls, and plants can be planted in the gaps to make an interesting garden feature,” Nakimuli says.

Before placing the stones, get a piece of paper, use a pencil to draw out how to place the stones before you start moving them around.

Outlining will save you a great deal of additional work when it comes to placing the rocks.

“Always try to imitate nature with your arrangements. Random grouping of these rocks, makes them look more natural, instead of placing them in straight rows,” she explains.

Right plants
The best plants that can make rock gardens look chic are usually drought tolerant. Beautiful plants all need good drainage, especially if you live in an area that gets a good amount of rainfall each year.

Also, always consider tiny plants not those that make shrubs. There are some smaller bulbs that can be the best choice, especially small daffodils, wild tulip species, and blue eyed grass among others.

Besides tiny plants, creeping plants are fun to use because they soften the hard edges of the rocks and help blend the planting over time.

Nakimuli asserts: “If you are looking for beautiful plants that thrive with virtual neglect, a creeping sedum just might fit the bill. Sedums strut where many other plants dare not venture.”

“They make themselves at home, for example, in the cracks of a gardens wall, on walkway, or even under massive trees where enormous roots control most of the soil’s moisture. The creeping sedums, which are also commonly known as stonecrops, when planted offer unending interest throughout your rock garden.”

It is perfect for rock gardens, on slopes or in borders, as long as it is exposed to the sun.

The poached egg plant, that is simple to grow in almost any soil in a sunny spot. The bright white and yellow cup shaped flowers create a cheerful patch of rock cover.

Therefore, if you are tired of the conventional look of your garden, feel free to explore the rock garden.