How to Build a Rockery

A rockery adds texture, depth, and visual interest to your garden, creating a striking contrast with surrounding greenery. It’s an excellent way to introduce new plant varieties and transform your outdoor space.

It can also be a practical solution for repurposing rubble and hardcore, saving on disposal costs while enhancing your garden’s design.

In this guide we walk you through the essential steps to choosing the right location and building a stunning rockery from scratch.

What is a Rockery?

A rockery is a carefully designed garden feature that uses rocks, stones, and specialist plants to create a natural, rugged landscape.

Popular in UK gardens, rockeries add depth, texture, and year-round interest while providing the perfect environment for alpine plants, succulents, and drought-resistant species.

Rockeries are not just decorative, they can also serve a practical purpose.

If you have uneven ground, poor soil, or even leftover rubble from garden projects, a rockery can transform these challenges into a stunning focal point. By arranging rocks of different sizes and incorporating well-draining soil, you create the ideal setting for plants that thrive in rocky conditions.

From small rock gardens in urban spaces to larger, more dramatic designs, a rockery can suit any garden style.

Whether you want to enhance biodiversity, reduce maintenance, or simply add character to your outdoor space, a well-planned rockery can be a low-maintenance, eye-catching addition to your garden.

What Types of Rockery Are There?

Rockeries come in various styles and layouts, each designed to complement different garden spaces and plant choices. Whether you have a large outdoor area or a small courtyard, there is a rockery type to suit your needs.

Here follows a selection of the most common types of layout.

Traditional Rockery

A classic rockery mimics natural mountainous terrain, featuring a mix of large boulders, smaller stones, and hardy alpine plants.

These rockeries are perfect for sloped gardens or areas with poor soil, as they provide excellent drainage and a striking visual impact.

Gravel or Dry Rock Garden

Ideal for low-maintenance gardens, gravel rockeries use small stones, pebbles, and hardy, drought-resistant plants such as succulents, lavender, and ornamental grasses.

This type of rockery is perfect for areas with limited rainfall, as it requires minimal watering and upkeep.

Water Rockery

Adding a pond or waterfall to a rockery creates a tranquil focal point in any garden.

Water rockeries often feature moss-covered stones, ferns, and moisture-loving plants.

They attract wildlife such as birds, frogs, and insects, making them an eco-friendly choice for nature lovers.

Mini or Container Rockery

For smaller spaces or patios, a mini rockery in a raised bed or large container is a great solution.

Using compact plants like sedums, thyme, and dwarf conifers, you can create a stunning rock garden even in the smallest of spaces.

Dose a Rockery use Soil?

Yes, a rockery does use soil, but the type and composition of the soil really depend on the plants that you want to grow.

Unlike traditional flower beds, rockeries require well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging, as many rockery plants thrive in drier conditions.

Using the right soil mix for the plants you’re trying to grow will create a stable foundation for the rocks while also supporting plant growth.

When it comes to best soil to use for your rockery, as said, this should be a free-draining mix that prevents excess moisture from accumulating around plant roots.

A common approach is to blend garden soil with grit, sand, or compost to improve drainage and aeration.

For alpine plants, which are generally a popular choice in rockeries, a mix of two-thirds sandy soil and one-third organic matter is ideal.

What Plants are Best in a Rockery?

Choosing the right plants is essential for creating a thriving rockery that enhances your garden.

The best rockery plants are hardy, drought-tolerant, and able to grow in well-draining soil with minimal nutrients.

In order to fit this very specialist set or requirements, many originate from mountainous or coastal regions, making them ideal for the UK’s variable climate.

Below are some of the top choices for a stunning rock garden.

Alpine Plants

Alpines are the most popular choice for rockeries, as they naturally thrive in rocky, well-drained environments.

These low-maintenance plants provide year-round interest and often bloom with vibrant flowers. Some excellent options include:

• Saxifrage – Compact, hardy, and available in a range of colours.
• Aubrieta – A trailing plant that produces beautiful purple or pink flowers in spring.
• Thrift (Armeria) – A tough, mound-forming plant with pink or white flowers.

Drought-Tolerant Succulents

Succulents are perfect for rockeries, as they store water in their leaves and require little maintenance.

They thrive in dry, sandy soils and can add a unique texture to your garden. Popular options include:

• Sempervivum (Houseleeks) – Rosette-shaped plants that come in a variety of colours and spread easily.
• Sedum (Stonecrop) – A tough, low-growing succulent that produces clusters of tiny flowers.

Ground Cover Plants

Ground cover plants help to fill spaces between rocks, preventing weeds and adding lush greenery. Some excellent choices include:

• Thyme – A fragrant, creeping herb that produces small flowers and attracts pollinators.
• Campanula – A spreading plant with delicate, bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, purple, or white.
• Rock Cress (Arabis) – A fast-growing plant with cascading pink or white flowers.

Small Shrubs and Ornamental Grasses

For added height and structure, consider incorporating small shrubs or grasses into your rockery. These plants create contrast and visual interest while requiring little upkeep.

• Lavender – A hardy, drought-resistant shrub with aromatic foliage and purple flowers.
• Festuca Glauca – A compact blue grass that adds texture and colour.
• Dwarf Conifers – Slow-growing evergreens such as Juniper or Pine add year-round structure.

Where’s the Best Place to put a Rockery?

When building a rockery, you’re basically imitating an alpine mountainside, so choosing the right location for your rockery is absolutely crucial for its success.

Rockeries are designed to mimic natural rocky landscapes, so placement should consider several factors including sunlight, drainage, and surrounding features to ensure plants thrive.

Below are some of the key factors to help you find the ideal spot in your garden.

Sunlight and Exposure

Most rockery plants, especially alpines and succulents, thrive in full sun, so a south or west-facing area that gets plenty of sunlight throughout the day is ideal.

Avoid heavily shaded spots, as many rockery plants struggle in damp, dark conditions.

If your garden has limited sun, select shade-tolerant plants such as ferns, mosses, and certain grasses.

Drainage and Soil Conditions

Rockeries need excellent drainage to prevent waterlogging, which can cause plant roots to rot and then the plant to die.

Avoid low-lying areas where water collects after rain. Sloping ground or raised beds are perfect for rock gardens, as they naturally allow excess water to drain away.

If your garden soil is heavy clay, consider improving drainage by mixing in gravel or grit before building your rockery.

Garden Features and Aesthetics

A well-placed rockery should complement your existing garden design. Popular locations include:

• Sloping Areas – Natural slopes or embankments work well, as they help replicate the rocky, mountainous conditions many rockery plants prefer.
• Corner Spaces – A rockery can make use of awkward corners, turning them into an attractive focal point.
• Near a Pond or Water Feature – Rocks and plants create a seamless transition between water and land, enhancing a pond’s natural appearance.
• Patios and Pathways – Small rockeries can be integrated alongside garden paths or patios for added texture and interest.

Accessibility and Maintenance

Rockeries do need care and maintenance to allow them to succeed, so make sure your rockery is easy to access for planting, weeding, and general upkeep.

Position it in an area where you can comfortably reach plants without stepping on them. If your rockery is on a slope, consider adding stepping stones or a pathway for easier maintenance.

Tools and Products Needed for a Rockery

In order to build your rockery you will need the following tools and products.

The very first thing you need is a pen/pencil and a piece of paper to plan your rockery. This is an essential step to ensure it’s right, will drain correctly and plants will thrive. It will also save you lugging heavy rocks about!

• Selection of suitable rocks and stones of differing sizes – A 12sq ft rockery will require around 2 – 3 tonnes of stone believe it or not!
• Hardcore and rubble
• Pen/pencil and paper
• Shale, gravel or small stones
• Spade
• Planting trowel
• Wheelbarrow
• Hand fork
• Good quality soil that drains well
• Good quality top soil – for filling deeper areas if needed
• landscape fabric
• Selection of desired plants
• Crowbar for levering stones/rocks
• Suitable gloves abd PPE gear – old clothes, boots etc.

How to Build a Rockery

After looking at all the different aspects of the rockery and what’s involved, it’s now time to get down to the business of actually building one. Read on to find out how.

Step 1: Choose the Right Location

The first job is to select a spot in your garden with good drainage and plenty of sunlight, as most rockery plants thrive in dry, well-lit conditions, such as the ones you would find on the side of a mountain.

Slopes, raised areas, or even awkward corners of the garden work well, as long as the area has access to plenty of sun light.

If your soil retains too much moisture, consider improving drainage by mixing in grit or sand. This may be a huge task to undertake, especially if your soil is heavy clay, but it’s necessary if you want your rockery to thrive.

Step 2: Prepare the Ground

With your suitable area selected, clear the area of weeds, grass, and debris. Once completed, lay out a weed-proof membrane over the entire area to prevent unwanted weed growth.

If using a natural slope, ensure it’s stable. You can improve its ability to stay in place by embedding large upright rocks in the ground or rebar that once covered with rocks/soil will help to anchor everything in place.

For flat areas, you may need to create a raised base using rubble or hardcore to provide the right structure and drainage.

Step 3: Position the Largest Rocks First

The next part is the fun part; laying the rocks in place! Start with the biggest rocks, as they form the backbone of your rockery.

Place them securely in the soil or hardcore base, anchoring them in and ensuring they are slightly buried as this will create added stability.

Arrange them in a natural-looking way, avoiding symmetry, and position them at different angles for a more organic feel.

Due to the size and weight of some rocks this can be tricky, hard, back-breaking work so you may need one or two helpers!

If you’re creating a layered-type rockery e.g. like the appearance of a mountain, start laying the base first and work up in layers as you go.

Step 4: Add Smaller Stones and Soil

Once the large rocks are in place, the next task is to then start to fill in the gaps with smaller stones, gravel, or rockery-specific compost.

Use a mix of sandy soil and grit to create a free-draining environment ideal for your rockery plants.

When placing the soil, avoid compacting it too much, as most rockery plant roots need loose soil to allow their roots to grow down in.

Step 5: Plant Your Rockery

This is where you can add your final, creative touches by actually getting your plants needed in.

Choose plants that suit your rockery’s conditions, it’s placement and the soil-type you have chosen to use.

Alpine plants, succulents, and drought-tolerant perennials tend to work very well in these areas.

Place taller plants towards the back and low-growing varieties at the front for a natural layered effect and to ensure that everything gets enough light exposure.

Water thoroughly after planting and cover the soil with decorative gravel or small stones to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Step 6: Maintain Your Rockery

To keep your rockery in tip-top condition it will need regular maintenance. This will keep it looking its best.

Remove weeds as they appear, trim plants to prevent overgrowth and check that stones remain secure.

During dry periods, water sparingly, as most rockery plants prefer well-drained conditions and are adept at surviving in such areas.

Creating your very own rockery can be quite a tough, laboured job and involve a lot of heavy lifting, but once completed and in full bloom, it will really bring a whole new element to your outdoor space.