You can add more beauty to your home or property with the use of rocks in your yard or by using rocks to create a rock garden. Rocks are very popular for many reasons:

• Easy to create small rock gardens
• You can use natural rocks or stones from your property or purchase them from a landscape supplier. You can even choose artificial rocks.
• Rocks provide a classy, natural look
• Low maintenance
• Adds great curb appeal
• Rocks provide a simple solution to improve the look of slopes in your yard or to add some flair to your flat or rockless yard
• Rock gardens don't get in the way when you are mowing your lawn
• Rocks offer an easy landscape do-it-yourself project, as there isn't much planning or symmetry of design needed if you want your rock garden to look natural and unplanned

Most larger rocks are too heavy for you to handle yourself, so you will want to find a good landscaping supply company that offers delivery and a professional landscaper who can place it properly. With that said, here are some rock and stone basics and design tips for planning your rock garden:

Boulders:
One of the largest rock options is the use of boulders. Boulders come in various shapes and sizes and are great for hiding things in your yard that you don't want to be seen. Many people use large rocks or boulders to hide pumps, utility boxes, septic risers or manholes as they add beauty while creating a functional solution to your landscaping challenges. Just place the rock in front of what you want to hide and you will have an instant improvement to the look of your yard. Consider placing a boulder in your front yard to display your address. These address rocks provide an attractive way to display your address or even your company logo.

Before You Start:
Choosing the right area for your rock garden is essential in making sure that your garden will be successful. You will need to make sure that the area for your garden has good drainage, since rock- and mountain-growing plants (which is what you will want to plant within your rock garden) do not grow well in water-bound soil. The best base for a rock garden is a sloping area where the water from the garden can run off. The main soil area should be be gritty rather than composite in order to simulate the natural environment of the plants.

Choosing Your Rocks and Plants:
The best rocks to choose are weathered limestone and the rocks to stay away from are round field boulders or river gravel. You can also choose to go for artificial rock, which comes in many different shapes and sizes. These are generally hand-painted to look as real as possible.

When it comes to placing plants in your rock garden, you will need to be especially careful to choose the right kinds of plants that will survive with the rocks. Some of the best plant options include: Alpine plants, ericaceous plants, perennials, alyssum, delosperma, geraniums and verbana. Consider adding gypsophilia to break up the plants. Do these plant names sound confusing? Don't worry because a local landscaper can help you determine the best plants and flowers for your rock garden. You can also check out this site for a list of recommended rock garden plants.

Color Scheme Tips:
The key to achieving an attractive rock garden is to use lots of color—but not too much! Consider this: If you have red sandstone rock, then you will want to plants with a hint of red in them. Make sure to also incorporate other colors such as silver, yellow and white, as this combination makes for a beautiful rock garden!

Remember:
You don't need to have a green thumb to create a successful rock garden. To ensure success in your rock garden, make sure that the rock foundation is built first, and then the drainage and the introduction of gritty soil. After that is done, the excavation of small pockets between the rocks for the plants should be filled with rich compost, then finally the plants.

Contact a professional landscaper for all your rock garden needs.