Gardens are a beautiful, relaxing thing, but not everyone has the time or space to maintain one. Just because you live in a place with extreme weather where pretty flowers don’t grow well or your job involves a lot of travel, however, doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a garden of some kind. Have you ever considered building yourself a lovely, low maintenance rock garden?
Check out these 15 rock garden designs of all sizes that will inspire you to start making your own right away!
1. Painted stepping stones
Perhaps you’re looking for a way to introduce lovely rock pieces leading through the yard to your actual garden. Maybe you’re just not quite ready for a full rock garden yet, but you’d like to incorporate rocks and stones into your decor. Painted stepping stones are the perfect solution for both of those things! Check out these gorgeous stones on
2. Rocks in your garden
Perhaps you live somewhere with moderate weather and you have a little gardening experience, but you’re still looking for a design with lots of rock involved? Try combining the two! We love this spiral vegetable garden from the
3. Rock beds with cacti
If you’re not sure you like the contrast between luscious green plants and rocks but you’d still like a little greenery, then a cactus or two is the answer! You can basically create yourself a cute little desert landscape right in your back yard. Frame it with wooden beams to make it look like an actual garden bed, just like this one from
4. Rocks and logs
Have you ever thought about having different levels to your garden and yard? We love the way this raised rock garden by My Austin Elite looks! Framing the rocks with cleanly sanded wood logs helps you keep the rocks contained and lets you define the shape of your garden while also creating an interesting contrast.
5. A clean rock corner
Some rock gardens are quite clean and minimalist to look at, and we love the modern touch it adds no matter how big or small your yard is! Choose a corner and create a boxed off rock space made of straight, clean lines, just like this one from
6. Carefully positioned rocks
Some rock gardens border on becoming works of art. This design on
7. Stone seating
Especially if you have plans to build a fire pit in your yard for summer nights, then stone seating is pretty and practical! Large, flat stone slabs make the perfect spot to put sitting cushions down and enjoy your rock garden to its fullest. Check out this design on
8. Rocks and pottery
If you’re concerned that a garden full of solely rocks will make your yard look like a desert landscape, find something to break up the visual!
9. Painted kids’ rocks
Do you already have a rock garden but you’re looking for a way to let your kids add to it? Fun rock painting crafts are the perfect solution! Check out these colourful little rock critters from
10. Rock garden in cement
Your rock garden doesn’t have to be built where your grass is. If you’ve been thinking of repaving a concrete or stone tiled area of your home, like the patio or the driveway, think about incorporating a rock garden into that part of your home instead. Save a square spot for a pretty rock garden design and fill it in with pebbles, stones, and a bit of complementary greenery, like this garden from
11. Raked rock zen gardens
12. Rock strawberries
If you’re looking for something a little more crafty and colourful to add to a garden you already have, rocks and rock gardens are still the thing for you! We love
13. Rocks as garden markers
Perhaps you have both a rock garden and a garden for plants or flowers? Incorporating a little greenery in your rock garden and a few stones in your regular garden blends the two just enough to balance out your yard. We love this simple idea of painting rocks to mark out where each vegetable you’re growing is planted! Check it out on
14. Potted rock “cactus” garden
If you live in an apartment or have a very small yard, you might not have room for an entire rock garden. That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun, though! Grab a pot or a planter and fill it with small rocks, pebbles, or stones. Paint differently sized rocks like cacti and “plant” them in the pot full of tones so they stand upright like a cactus would. Place it somewhere in your home or garden for a little faux greenery!
15. Tabletop rock garden
Creating a tiny rock or zen garden can be just as relaxing and therapeutic as making and sitting in a full sized one. These are the perfect option for people who live in apartments or whose homes don’t have yard space. Grab a few smooth rocks or pebbles, some twigs and long lasting or faux plants, and a little box or tray to put them in. We love this one from
Have you created other DIY rock garden ideas that you don’t see here but that you’re very proud of? Tell us about them in the comments section or link us to a picture of your work!
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