Watering the grass and plants all throughout the warm season, which in some places is year ’round, can be a huge hassle. There are usually water restrictions, which can lead to brown spots on grass and dead plants, which then leads to having to take out the dead plants and replant new ones, and the cycle continues.
With rock gardens, however, the need to water almost entirely goes away and the few plants you do have are much more likely to survive a drought should one occur.
Here are 11 examples of rock gardens and the various ways they can be styled.
1. This rock garden in Seattle has plants that will tolerate heavy rain in the fall and winter, but will also do well as long as they’re given a little water during the dryer summer months.
Seattle Residence by folia horticultural + design.
2. This Las Vegas home has no grass but instead has a number of plants scattered throughout the rocks, all drought resistant and and very low maintenance.
Contemporary landscaping inspiration from blue heron design build.
3. This garden has a mix of rocks, drought resistant plants, as well as a bit of grass to bring life into the yard.
See more photos of this garden, here. Designed by Studio H Landscape Architecture in collaboration with QS Landscape. Photography by Studio H Landscape Architecture.
4. Pavers of various sizes have been placed throughout this yard, and the low maintenance plants and grasses create depth and texture.
Designed by Griffin Enright Landscape.
5. The entrance and backyard of this home uses rocks and cacti to bring plant life in and watering responsibilities out.
Birds Nest Residence by Brent Kendle. Photography by Winquist Photography.
6. This backyard overlooking the ocean has a rock garden full of cacti and a long strip of gravel for playing bocce.
Ocean Bluff by Grace Design Associates Inc.
7. This yard uses drought tolerant plants and small stones of various kinds to create a low maintenance yard full of color and texture.
Designed by GardenArt Group. Photography by Tom Story.
8. Gravel, drought tolerant plants, and a number of colorful stones are used in both the front and back yards of this home to create an easy to maintain landscape.
Designed by D-CRAIN Design and Construction
9. The front yard of this home has been filled with rocks and an assortment of low maintenance, drought tolerant plants.
Frond yard landscape makeover by Singing Gardens. Photography by Nancee Lewis.
10. Although this backyard looks a little sparse right now, once the plants grow a bit, there will be less gravel and more plant life.
L’Ametlla de Mar by Simbiosi Studio.
11. This rock garden exists both inside and outside of this Japanese house.
