Create the perfect rock garden with this step-by-step guide. Find out how to prevent weeds and keep your property in top-notch shape.
Weed control methods for your rock garden are relatively straightforward, provided you build it with an action plan.
Today, you will learn how I created our rock garden and the type of weed prevention I incorporated.
What Is A Rock Garden?
A rock garden is also known as a rockery or an alpine garden, which can include various rocks of all sizes.
I’ve also included tips and a recipe to kill weeds and keep your property in top-notch shape.
You’ll be the star of your neighbourhood, and you’ll get asked how you do it.
Being proud of your property takes hard work and maintenance.
Let’s walk through the process of building a rock garden with weed prevention.
Build A Garden With Rocks And Mulch
Build your rock garden the right way! These tips and guidelines will help you prevent weeds and craft the perfect rockery for your garden.
A few years ago, I travelled to England, and my first comment when we arrived at our destination was where is all of the grass?
Not one house on the street had a lawn; instead, they had a rock garden that brightened the property and looked professional.
I devised sustainable front garden ideas for the homeowner without a green thumb.
The drifting saltwater made it challenging to grow vegetation on their properties within walking distance from the Irish Sea.
Instead, everyone had rock gardens, and they were gorgeous and unique based on the homeowner’s preference.
However, you can’t just start putting rocks on top of the soil because it takes more work than that.
Rock Garden Your Landscape
Rock gardens can look nice initially, but that can change quickly, especially if they are not prepared or maintained correctly.
We rarely see entire properties transformed into rock gardens in North America.
However, many homeowners enjoy the style and natural touch rocks can add to their properties.
Unfortunately, too many rock gardens are neglected, producing overgrown weeds. In some cases, you can barely see the rocks or stones.
It has been four years since I installed a rock garden under the trees around our property, and hardly any weeds have been popping through.
It’s essential to remember that you must maintain your landscape year after year, as it’s not a set-it-and-forget drop sheet for your home.
Benefits Of A Rock Garden
Why would you consider building a rock garden?
If a rock garden is prepared correctly and installed, it can be a relatively low-maintenance required addition to your landscape, which is easy on the budget.
Rocks also pair well with water, so if you think of installing a pond or waterfall, a surrounding rock garden may be a finishing touch.
A rock garden can also help improve drainage in your yard, which is always good.
Depending on the slope of your property and if positioned correctly, it may even create a natural riverbed.
Like plants, rock gardens are often a focal point because rocks don’t die and look great year-round.
The significant part about choosing this type of landscape is that you get to pick the rock garden layout that you prefer.
If your property is not even like ours, you can still create a rock garden on slopes as long as you have some retaining wall to ensure the rocks don’t slide.
That is if the slope is large.
We have a rock garden under our front tree on a slight slope, and it hasn’t proved to be a problem, nor did we need any support for the rocks.
Rock Garden Preparation
How To Prep Your Rock Garden
The tools and materials you use to build your rock garden will contribute to the regular maintenance your garden will require.
You can also use an edger to dig a deep edge that separates the garden from your lawn.
There won’t be a need to replace as many stones over time as they will settle on the edge.
It also makes it easier to cut any surrounding grass while avoiding hitting any rocks or stones with your lawnmower blades.
While landscape fabric is magical in preventing weeds from growing in your garden, it will not contain all.
I always use landscape fabric as it’s inexpensive and keeps our rock garden looking pristine.
Generally, I don’t have issues with weeds apart from the odd escape artist.
Laying down landscape fabric before adding soil to your garden will help, but weeds cannot grow through the material; they can still grow into the fabric.
Seeds that enter your garden can still push their roots through it, whether by wind, rain, insects, or birds.
You will still see weeds, but not nearly as many.
When preparing the ground, you must choose good quality, weed-free soil.
Quality Products Go A Long Way With Weed Prevention
If you try to cut corners by buying cheap materials, buying good soil for a rock garden is not a corner you want to miss, especially if you plan to cover most of the park with stones or pebbles.
Pulling weeds out between rocks is not only painful for your fingers, but you are not likely to get a shovel or trowel in without disturbing the natural look of your rock garden.
However, removing the roots of a weed buried in rocks is also often hard.
The weed will continue to grow with a bigger and stronger root that will be even harder to remove.
Further, in this post, I will share some homemade weed killer ideas that can apply to any weeds that may pop up or prevent the seeds from germinating.
You can also use a garden rake (stiff rake) to level and smooth out the underlying soil.
A large pry bar, a wrecking bar, and a fulcrum (woodblocks to use as pivot points) can be beneficial when moving and placing a boulder.
Moving large boulders is not a one-person job.
They can be cumbersome, and while they may add an excellent focal point to your garden, it’s not worth throwing out your back.
Once the soil is prepared, you will want to get any plants in the ground before laying any stone or mulch in the garden.
Rock Garden Plants
What plants can I use in a rock garden?
You could technically plant whatever you’d like, although some plants will look better and require less maintenance.
Perennials, succulents, and ornamental grasses are the best to use in a rock garden as you only have to plant them once and do not have to remove any stone you would have to if growing yearly.
Among many plants that would work well in a rock garden, junipers, rock cress, sedums, and hens & chicks are just a few.
I can see from my driveway picture that hens and Chicks will also quickly grow on rocks.
Try to use various plants with different textures to complement the stones and rocks you have used to achieve a natural look.
When choosing plants, some may need to be divided to avoid growing too large and taking over your rock garden.
Dividing these plants will not be as easy as planting in a traditional garden, as the rocks can challenge this.
If you don’t mind moving the stones or rocks away so you can dig, then, by all means, go ahead, but remember that it will be more work for you.
How To Use Eggshells As Garden Fertilizer
Homemade Weed Killers
While pulling weeds by hand is a practical, natural approach to weed management, it is not very enjoyable and can be painful for your fingers when working around rocks and stones.
Since using herbicides is banned in many places, it doesn’t mean there isn’t something out there that you can use to rid the pesky weeds that may pop up in your rock garden.
Depending on your garden’s design and the materials you choose, mechanically removing the weeds with a hoe or a trowel will not make it easy to maintain a weed-free rock garden.
Corn Meal Gluten Herbicide
How To Apply Corn Gluten To Your Rock Garden
Although strange to use, Cornmeal is called the birth control of sources.
Sprinkling corn gluten meal over your garden can be used as a pre-emergent herbicide as it prevents the germination of all seeds.
Not just the seeds from weeds, but ensure you are not spraying around any seeds planted in your gardens, including your vegetable garden.
Corn gluten prevents the germination of dandelion and large crabgrass seeds by releasing amino/dipeptides (proteins) into the soil, starving the roots of water.
Apply when the soil is moist and when rain is forecasted within 2 days of application. Remember corn gluten won’t eliminate the weeds you have but will prevent new ones from sprouting.
It also stops grass seeds from germinating so never overseed your lawn and apply corn gluten at the same time.
Corn Gluten is a great way to keep ahead of your weeds before they become a problem.
Scotts.com How Corn Gluten Can Feed Your Lawn And Kill Weeds
Boiling Water Weed Protection
Hot boiling water is pretty self-explanatory.
Take a kettle of boiling water and pour it on the weeds, careful not to burn your feet.
The water will scald the leaves and the roots as the water absorbs the soil.
Homemade Weed Killer Recipe
The vinegar dish soap weed killer is a top-rated Homemade Weed Killer recipe.
This recipe claims to kill pesky weeds, which is worth a shot if it works.
A homemade weed-killer recipe such as this contains simple household ingredients.
Although I successfully used it on our lime tree, it’s not a robust homemade weed killer infested with bugs.
How To Make Homemade Weed Killer
- 1-gallon white vinegar
- 1 cup of salt
- 1 tbsp Blue Dawn dish soap
I know firsthand that vinegar kills weeds by clogging the leaves’ pores and preventing photosynthesis, eventually killing it.
While the dish soap helps the vinegar stick to the plant instead of running off into the soil, I wouldn’t recommend adding salt.
Salt is toxic to our plants, trees, and soil; this mixture can work without it.
Also, this homemade weed killer requires the weed to be leafed out.
In short, this means it will not kill any weeds after pulling them out, and the root stays in the ground or if you have just cut the grass.
The leaves need to be present to be absorbed; the more surface area, the better.
Spraying them after cutting the grass or unsuccessfully pulling it out will only waste your money.
With both the boiling water and vinegar/dish soap methods, remember that it didn’t kill the weed the first time you doused it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t working.
Aim For Killing The Root System
I have seen many dandelions, even tiny ones with a 2-foot tap-root.
With these methods, the roots are what you aim to kill, as some weeds will continue to grow back.
Some applications may be required to get rid of these stubborn weeds.
Always make sure the leaves of the weeds are completely saturated.
You can use both methods on your lawn, driveway, walkways, paths, and rock gardens.
A humid, sunny day with no wind is always the best time to spray any liquid herbicide, homemade or not.
Pesticide drift may occur when it is windy and can damage surrounding plants.
You can also use double-concentration white vinegar mixed 1:1 with water to kill weeds.
Apply the vinegar mixture with a spray bottle or paint the weeds to get them soaked.
The strong vinegar will kill the roots of the weeds, and they will turn brown, as in the photo above.
Once this happens, remove the weeds and roots from the area.
Send The Squirrels and Chipmunks Packing
How many of you struggle with squirrels and chipmunks eating your flower bulbs?
How about the little critters burrowing into the soil to bury food?
We do, and spread cayenne pepper around the soil or in a rock garden deters them from stepping foot on your landscaping projects.
Squirrels and chipmunks despise cayenne pepper. This is just a tip for those who want to kick them to the curb this season.
Maintaining A Rock Garden
While the general idea behind a rock garden is to add a natural look to your property, weeds are unsightly.
If you’re unsure about building a rock garden, have a professional do the landscape work.
There’s no sense in paying twice for a project if you’re worried about the outcome.
Weed prevention is a significant issue when planning your rock garden, so don’t miss it.
A rock garden with weeds isn’t the natural effect you were likely aiming to achieve.
Inevitably, there will always be weeds, but by being one step ahead, we can control how big of a problem we allow them to be.
Discussion: What other tips do you have for those looking to kill weeds in their rock garden?
Share your comments below!
Great article Katrina!!! As usual!!! Hubby loves rock gardens but has no clue how to go about making one. His idea is to plop a load of rocks on the ground and plant around the rocks while somebody else takes the blame for the weeds. He is not allowed to weed without supervision….we’ve lost too many plants to him weeding because he doesn’t know what’s what in there.
We need more land to put in any more gardens here unless we give up on grass completely…
Amazing how many people do that without much thought to weeds and they end up looking like a weed garden rather than a proper rock garden. Sounds like my wife… last year she tried to help and the very spring onions we planted she started to pull… she thought they were weeds.. geesh.
Yea……I I had some morning glorys growing nicely along the fence, getting just big enough to start clinging to the fence, maybe a foot high. Hubby had been par-taking of the vine and decided to ‘help’ weed the garden for me…… You would think that if he saw a nice row of identical seedlings in front of a fence right where I had morning glory the few years before he would at least ask about them. Nope… he ripped every last one out by the roots and then couldn’t figure why I was so mad at him………..
Haha, sounds just like something my wife would do. She is only allowed to pick weeds in certain areas now ha.
Katrina did a wonderful job on my garden a few years back. Such a lovely person too!!! She knows her stuff!!!
Very nice article on rock gardens. And very good info for killing unwanted plants (weeds). Some plants (native) my neighbors refer to as weeds are my favorites.
Could you show photos of rock gardens that you’ve done?
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Katherine
Would also like to see photos of rock gardens you have done. Appreciate all help.
Those are all the rock garden photos that I’ve done.
Thank you for the info-very informative. Especially concerning the corn meal. Who woulda thunk??
Will the cornmeal attract ants thus creating another problem?
How long before results are noticed for your weed killing techniques?
I don’t know about the cornmeal attracting ants, but I wouldn’t think so. However, if you thoroughly spray the vinegar/salt/soap solution on a sunny day (I usually spray between 8-9am) you should see results before dark. I can spray in the morning and by 5pm they are very dead. I live on a farm and have a well. I only use this recipe because I don’t want to use poisons near my water source. I use this everywhere with no fear of that. I will kill EVERYTHING so be careful, especially on windy days. Sunny days are best and wait until there is no dew on the weeds.
I can personally attest to the vinegar, salt and soap weed killer working, but don’t skimp. 5% works well and that is all most places carry. However if you have a deep rock bed with some exceptionally stubborn weeds you might want to try to find some 9% for those. I have also bought 9%, poured half in 2, 1-gallon bottles added the salt & soap, refilled the bottle the 9% came in with water and divided the water between the 2 bottless. You can get 2 gallons for less that 2 gallons of 5% vinegar. Vinegar is also available in 30% as a cleaning agent. It takes 21.3 ounces and you can get 6 gallons out of it. Also another small tip. If you can find Morton’s canning and pickling salt, it dissolves better because it is finer than table salt. It comes in a large box and will make quite a few gallons. However, I have never found a landscaping fabric that really works and I’ve tried SEVERAL. I finally jerked it all out, THAT was a pain. Now I partially bury pots or containers in the dirt and/or rocks. I am not aiming for large plants and can use some annuals also. This way I can just thoroughly spray weeds without worrying about hurting my plants. I’m getting lazy in my old age. You have a lot of great suggestions. Thanks.
Great ideas! Thanks for the weed killing tips that are so natural!
You’re welcome Sue!
Mr.CBB
Great article!
Love their info!
I’m collecting me materials and doing my rock garden in the spring!
That’s a great idea. Are you sourcing materials for free, end of season or looking for deals?
Great article. I do have a rock garden started. Your tips will help lots this spring when I continue in building my rock garden. One question, is cornstarch safe for animals and good bugs? Thanks for the inspiration!
Here’s an article I found that might help with that answer. From what I’ve read it doesn’t seem to be a problem.
https://www.justanswer.com/dog-health/911p1-corn-starch-safe-dogs-ingest-sugar-ant.html
Do you recommend fabric or not? Am very conflicted and would like your opinion. My yard has some slope to it.
Hi Sean,
I used fabric so yes I would recommend it. I had a part to fix this past summer so I just laid new fabric.
I find your information posted to be very helpful.
love your info must try the weed killer fingers crossed. It would certainly be a bummer if you were taken off, keep the great info
So happy I found you looking forward to future articles c
Thanks for the info! I was going to add a layer of sand on top of the fabric to help with weed control do you think that would be a waste of money?
Hi TJ,
I wouldn’t bother because weeds would root in sand. Weeds will grow from the top of a weed barrier but they won’t grow from underneath. I just pull all of our rocks in the gardens and clean the leaves and other bits I find left from the animals. Nothing is perfect and you may find a weed or two but thus life. Let me know how it goes.
I appreciate your comments throughout the post, as I feel like even though I know better, weeds will come up especially in super windy areas such as Wyoming. The dirt and debris just fill in between the rocks creating another nice place for things to grow. I have used livestock salt in areas where there will be no other plants growing, but I wonder how long salts properties will keep things from growing there at all? Does it permanently damage soil?
Good to know. I am thinking about some type of rock garden and this helps
Hi FS,
I’m glad it helps. I’m actually creating a rock garden and path with a friend of mine now. I’ll take some photos when it’s done.
I would like to try using cornmeal to kill weeds but on the other hand won’t it attract unwanted garden pest and or even rats?
Hi Ella,
Great question. We have not had any issues with this. It’s my understanding that the rodents won’t eat the cornmeal as it dehydrates and kills them.
I started my rock garden by first just using a weed killer that I found at local Wal-Mart store. After weeds were dead and cleared away I used Preen for weed prevention and then placed cardboard on surface covering completely. Then I placed about 3 inches of wood mulch on top of cardboard. I have so far not seen any weeds BUT, my neighbors have Bermuda grass that is EXTREMELY INVASIVE so I’m dealing with that CONSTANTLY 🙄😠. Any suggestions? I just spray around my rock garden when I see it creeping into it.
Great ideas! Thank you!!
Great advice, especially homemade weed killer.
Thanks. 🙂
Thanks Susan I appreciate your feedback. Mr.CBB
As a general rule-regular landscape fabric does not work,-big box stores-and i have used it to no avail! We now buy nursery/commerical/industrial,it lets water in,but no weeds come up and it works wonderful. Have had it down for over 5 yrs,so unless I get a hole punctured,then no weeds.A roll of 300 ft,costs $100,and well worth it.,.anything else is more work and a waste of money. The vinegar works and Cornmeal works-also for ants.They take it back to the nest and die. I’ve used both.
Thanks for the tips, Denise. So far I’ve had the odd weeds pop up but that’s pretty good although I keep it up every year.
Hey Denise,
Where do you buy your commercial landscape fabric from?