how to build a narrow high rock garden

Some instructions on how to build and make a narrow high "wall" rock garden. There is no doubt that there is space for improvement on my design, but it will at least give you an idea. This wall was built by me - a woman of retirement age. It is very easy and it can be transformed into many different designs from flowers with ferns to succulents.

A narrow high rock garden is a convenient way to make good use of space in the garden. It is excellent for pending aloes and succulent plants. There are quite a few aloes and succulents that grow hanging on cliffs or down slopes in their habitat. Most of these plants are usually planted on level ground where they grow spreading along horizontally. This is a rock garden where the plants will not have problems with drainage. It is also a rock garden for countries with a high rainfall.

It is a good idea to draw up a rough design of the rock garden. It is a lot of hard work to build a rock garden and if the result is not to your satisfaction then it is a lot of work (or maybe impossible) to change the design.

For more garden photos click on the menu above

How to build a rock garden in a very small space -

Not counting hauling all those rocks - The rock garden wall was easy and relatively quick to build, while sitting on a folding chair. Rudi did not help (no need). For size the blocks are 40cm x 20cm x 20cm. There is a gap between the stone wall and the brick wall from 0 - 10 cm and the length of the whole wall is 240 cm. The extension at the far end is an optional extra.

The large heavy cement blocks do not need cement, just put them down. .Cement the rocks to keep them in place on top of each other. That is unlike the normal rock garden where the rocks do not need cement as they are much wider and they are packed on and into a slope of ground. Leave a space between the building-blocks and the rock wall and leave some holes for the plants between the rocks. Keep in mind that if you water from the top the soil and water will spill out of many of the planting holes. While building seal off pockets roughly (not completely water proof) with a few large openings at different levels to water from the front. Fill the opening between the walls with humus mixed with dolomite gravel - if possible. Otherwise fill it with good compost earth mixed with very coarse sand or gravel. The plants can always be fed with liquid fertilizer so do not skimp on the gravel it is important to keep the soil from compacting solid.

Larger plants will be planted in the holes of the pre-cast bricks with plenty root space straight down. see the last photo below

The work scene. As you can see, it is easier with a little help and encouragement from a best friend watching from the side (right side on the photo). Mix the size, color and shape of the rocks if as much as possible. The wall must have a rough appearance, like a heap of rocks lying where they fell.


The final row will follow after the top aloes have settled. The aloes on top are planted in the holes of the pre-cast bricks with a lot of room for the roots to grow down. There are many spaces for small succulent plants amongst the rocks on the wall still to be planted - in time when something special turn up.

The final pre-cast bricks are in place. Some stones were cemented on the top layer to form a gap with the 15 cm wide by 40 cm high pre-cast bricks placed on top. Flat stones will be cemented to the front of the pre-cast bricks for decoration. The bricks can also be finished off by plastering the brick with colored cement to resemble a stone.


The top left and far right consist of a long store bought planter, disguised with some flat stones on the front. It needs some finishing off on the photo. This photo is to show the construction of the wall before the plants cover the details.
The rock wall garden on the photo left is standing for 5 months. The cement is too clean and the plants have not filled their spaces. The photo right is starting to blend in with the garden.

The rock garden will never be completely finish. It will need trimming or planting ongoing like the rest of the garden.

Aloe hardyi in bloom.

It is necessary to place branches with thorns to prevent the dogs running over the small plants in front. The thorns fit in well with the plants.

Another season - the plants have grown and other plants are in bloom. The basic rock structure of the wall did not change and can be used as a guide between the two photos. Flowering are Aloe acutissima left and the red and yellow blooms of two endemic Kalanchoe species.

Photo September 2011

How to build a rock garden in a small space