In recent years, as garden design leans more towards naturalism, a new trend has quietly emerged across gardens from Southern California to Maine: rocks and boulders. These elements are no longer just part of a traditional rock garden; they’ve become an integral part of lush, densely-planted landscapes, seamlessly blending with plants to create a visually striking space.
Every garden has rocks, of course—sometimes even an overwhelming number of them—but this trend is all about big rocks, sometimes giant boulders, placed artfully into the landscape. These aren’t just rocks thrown together for decoration; they are carefully chosen design elements that bring structure, history, and permanence to a garden, especially one that’s just starting out.
Fi Campbell, a landscape designer based in California, often incorporates large boulders into her designs, viewing them almost like sculptures. She explains that rocks are more than just functional—they can serve as focal points in a garden, adding weight and character to a space. “When you put a garden in the ground, it takes time for plants to really take root, no matter how dense or full the planting is,” says Gavin Boyce-Ratliff, founder of GBR Landscape in Maine. “Stone—whether modern or rustic—provides the ‘bones’ of the landscape, grounding it in a way that plants alone can’t.”
Campbell insists that no matter how small or grand the project, you should always start with a plan. Even if it’s just a quick sketch on a cocktail napkin, having a visual guide for where to place your rocks is essential, especially when dealing with heavy stones that can weigh hundreds of pounds.
“Choosing where to place a boulder is almost like a painter deciding where to put a brushstroke,” says Campbell. “You want to integrate the rocks in a way that feels like there’s continuity and flow.” Observing where your eye naturally lingers in the garden can help you identify the best spots to place a rock or two.
According to Ashley Lloyd, founder of Lloyd Landwright, rocks are “like characters” in a landscape, and choosing the right rock for your space is crucial. When selecting stones for your garden, it’s important to look around and take cues from the natural landscape. “If you live in a rocky area, like parts of New England, incorporating local stones makes the garden feel like it belongs,” says Lloyd. She often uses rocks uncovered during excavation projects, which not only add authenticity but also allow the landscape to feel integrated with its surroundings.
Simply placing a rock on the surface isn’t enough to make it feel at home in your garden. According to Lloyd, embedding the stone into the earth slightly is important. “We dig plants in, so why not rocks?” she explains. By sinking them into the soil, you allow the rocks to settle into the garden, giving them a sense of permanence and purpose.
Instead of opting for traditional concrete walls, Molly Sedaleck of ORCA recommends using dry-stacked stones to define flower beds. This method creates a less formal, more natural feel. “What I love about this technique is that the stone walls have nooks and spaces where you can sit and enjoy the garden,” she adds. Campbell also suggests stacking rocks to create a more organic look, particularly when lining garden borders.
Boyce-Ratliff aims to make his landscapes feel “old” as quickly as possible, and one way he does this is by using weathered stone to introduce an element of surprise. “I love placing a stone where it’s unexpected,” he says. Whether it’s hidden among ferns or peeking out from a dense bed of perennials, a stone can serve as a grounding force within the softer layers of the garden.
When working with harder elements like concrete or machine-cut stone, Boyce-Ratliff suggests softening the design with natural stone. This creates a visual transition between man-made materials and the surrounding landscape, adding texture and depth to the garden. Similarly, Lloyd often uses rocks to transition between different topographical or functional zones in the garden, providing a natural way to “soften” the overall look.
One of the key rules in working with stones is scale. Boyce-Ratliff warns against using stones that are too small for the space. “Small stones can feel out of place or disproportionate,” he says. Large boulders, on the other hand, can become striking design elements that capture attention and provide a sense of scale and gravitas.
Sedaleck, for instance, once suggested turning a massive boulder in Southern California into a daybed, allowing her clients to “feel like a lizard” basking in the sun. These boulders, with their monumental size, create an almost childlike wonder, inviting people to interact with them in a way that smaller rocks simply can’t.
Finally, to truly integrate rocks into your garden, you should plant around them. Campbell recommends planting low-growing or creeping plants around boulders, with taller plants providing a backdrop. This creates a dynamic flow between the stone and plant life, ensuring the rocks don’t overwhelm the landscape but instead complement the surrounding foliage.
In conclusion, using rocks and boulders in garden design not only adds visual interest but also gives your space a sense of permanence and depth. Whether you’re working with small pebbles or massive boulders, these natural elements help to anchor your garden, making it feel more cohesive and timeless. By carefully selecting the right rocks, planning their placement, and pairing them with complementary plants, you can create a garden that feels as though it’s always been there.