If you want to create a rock garden on your property, you need look no further for inspiration than the very terrain that surrounds us. The Sierra and the Great Basin Desert offer endless examples to emulate.

If your yard is sloped with rocks already in place, you're lucky, especially if the rocks are beautiful and well placed. If your yard is flat and rockless, you'll have to collect some rocks. Remember though, rocks are heavy and lifting them can hurt your back! If you want big rocks, you're best bet is to purchase them and have them delivered. (We have some beautiful large rocks on hand this season for this very purpose.)

Rock gardens can be, but they don't have to be sprawling. Even a small space in your garden can serve as an interest point for plants that drain well and do well against rocks that heat up from the summer sun. Place the stones in a pattern or design layout you like, using larger stones as a wall to hold the soil in place. Fill the space between and around the rocks with soil. Add smaller rocks on top of the soil, but reserve some really nice larger ones, too, to make the design look naturally erratic. You might also want to install a drip system.

For the plants, you can pick and choose which ones you want according to color and texture, but also according to what enjoys living in your new rocky microclimate. Choose plants that will grow so as to show off your rock garden, rather than hide it. We carry many plants, including miniture, low-growing ground covers, cacti, sedum and other hardy perennials in small containers that are perfect for rock gardens. We can also help with designs and installations.