Steve Snedeker’s Landscaping and Gardening Blog

Why more rocks?  Because I can.  I see quite a few searches from people interested in this topic, some linking here and being directed to earlier posts. I like to think I can produce even more variations and maybe some pertinent “how-to” information on working with these elements of landscape design.

In Walls

Dry-stacked rock walls are an art. My own artistic fortunes in these constructions have more often than not depended on who was working for me at the time. Some are better than  others and some, frankly, are also better than me. Just the same, I always loved working with them. Here’s one now:

(click any image to enlarge)

These walls accentuate the lines of all those P{onderosa Pines reaching skyward. They provide ground level interest and work well against the grass.

The next one was almost bizarre but it actually grew on me. Asked initially to use two different kinds of rocks to make retaining walls and to retain a steep bank with them, we mixed them up in what later proved to be an interesting way, I thought.

These same blue/grey fractured rocks we used elsewhere but in more congruent forms.

It’s difficult using two different colors and styles of boulders and wall blocks, yet, it happens. Here, below, is another deal we did in much the same way. This time we decided to try and salvage the narrower rocks which were slated to be thrown away.  What was originally supposed to be all boulders took on an interesting look.

What became this:

Began as something else entirely. In fact, let’s take a time lapse look at this one:

We began with this:

A really steep little bank which had a definite line at the bottom where the paver patio had been engineered to stop. It meant some pretty thick rock placements to divert water and to help the plants retain the bank itself. Also, there was a spa to put in, pretty much dead center to the operation.

We began in the spa first, having salvaged the rocks I mentioned and having also decided to build a wall with them, including a drainage system for the wall:

Then the rock work began. It was pretty much just a machine at this time. Density was asked for and we built everything bearing in mind the plants which were coming would be our eventual best friends:

I love that machine!

The small walls we used the salvaged material for can be seen better in this picture at the far end. We were pretty shameless in using them, actually, because I thought they looked real good. Needless to say, they functioned perfectly too.

We built up the spa’s walls, then bent around the coprner, sort of pasting rocks into place on our way out. We then finished the patio, then added the spa.

This is what we ended up with, panorama-style:

And here is is all planted up:

Carried away once again with the good ole construction process.

Sue me. I hope you enjoyed it.