How do you build a natural rockery?

Question

I have a small-ish and flat garden. The corner is all soil and plain. My mother has given me about 10 rocks which are about 12 -15 inches in length and width.

I tried to build a rockery in the corner of my garden but it has turned out like a roman wall. I'm hoping my neighbours don't see it through their bedroom window as they'll think I'm not all there.

Please please help me!!! I will be so grateful if you can give me some tips on rockerys and small gardens as I can't find any websites that can help me.

Answer 1

Sometimes adding soil so there are some mounds improves the look and makes a nice varied terrain. Planting a shrub or two can also define it. If you place stones in an arrangement you like then fill in between with some soil it will begin to look more like you had in mind. Remember it's not going to look like much in the very beginning because all your plants aren't in. They will take some time to fill it out. Here's a pic of a brand new rockery and it sort of looks like a dirt pile with a few stones:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.markhorrell.com/album/garden/images/rockery.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.markhorrell.com/album/garden/rockery.html&h=450&w=600&sz=50&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=x688Z3jrIXWhVM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drockery%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26rls%3DGGGL,GGGL:2006-30,GGGL:en%26sa%3DN

Before long it can start to look like this one:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/frisbee-lawn-garden/rockery-grasses.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/frisbee-lawn-garden/rockery-grasses.html&h=453&w=600&sz=91&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=Ull4XT_Z1QfD2M:&tbnh=102&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drockery%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26rls%3DGGGL,GGGL:2006-30,GGGL:en%26sa%3DN
Adding some decorative grasses really helped this one start to have some structure and shape.

A small fountain can add some interest as well and you can build it yourself fairly easily. Here's some pics of ones you can buy/ They have a nice naturalistic look for a rockery: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.alibaba.com/photo/50971122/Rockery_Fountains.jpg&imgrefurl=http://wpmy.en.alibaba.com/offerdetail/53016632/Sell_Rockery_Fountains.html&h=360&w=360&sz=27&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=2L1aY7f1WABuKM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=121&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drockery%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26rls%3DGGGL,GGGL:2006-30,GGGL:en%26sa%3DN
Here's a site with some tips on creating a rockery: http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/design/projects/borders_rockery.shtml

Have fun with your garden!