1. CHOOSE LARGE CUT STONES

The foundation of any rock garden is a selection of large stones. When you design a mountain-style rock garden, you'll typically anchor it with large boulders that look like they've just tumbled down the hillside. But you generally want a more organized look for a modern rock garden.

To that end, turn your attention to cut stones. You may still want a boulder as a centerpiece, but then surround the rock with geometric pavers to form a pathway or border. Conversely, stack the cut stones into a modern art sculpture in lieu of the boulder. Another option is to use the cut stones to make a planter.

2. PLAY WITH SHAPE

Geometry plays a big role in modern design because the style focuses on form as well as function. Such emphasis is part of the reason a contemporary rock garden calls for more order than a rustic design - you can better see the form of the garden if it's manicured. To that end, look for more ways you can play with shape beyond choosing geometric pavers.

For example, if you're creating a border between the rocks and landscaping beds, keep the edges crisp so the shape is clear. What's more, consider adding to the shape, say by adding an arch or even a point. Likewise, keep forms in mind as you add other elements, such as furniture or yarn ornaments, to your rock garden. For instance, consider a spherical fountain to adorn your garden.

3. DON'T FORGET FILLER STONES

While you're playing around with shapes, don't forget you'll need groundcover. One option is to plant groundcover plants. Succulents, such as creeping sedums and hens-and-chicks, make for visually interesting groundcover. However, many other groundcover plants sprawl by nature, so they may affect the tidiness of your modern garden.



To that end, consider incorporating some filler stones. These stones can come in the form of pea gravel, which is a very popular and low-maintenance groundcover option. You can also add more stone paving around your garden beds or even within the beds themselves. Mortared paving is especially good for emphasizing form while maintaining a tidy appearance.

4. Consider Your Color Palette

Starting with a color palette is useful for creating cohesion within your landscaping. Typically, you'll choose a set of colors and try to carry them throughout your yard. A color palette is integral to a modern garden because of that emphasis on order. You want a color palette that's restrained and deliberate.



Your color palette starts with your stones. Indeed, here is a place where pea gravel comes in handy, as it comes in so many colors. You can even use the different colors of stones to emphasize the shapes within your landscaping. From there, keep the colors within your plants minimal and evenly spaced.

5. ADD VISUALLY STUNNING PLANTS

While you're maintaining restraint in other areas of your design, such as the color palette, you do want to get showy in another area. For your modern rock garden, this area can be your plant selection. While plants don't usually lend themselves to emphasizing form as well as function - they usually just exist - certain plants are visually stunning.

As you select plants for your modern garden, look for ways to keep emphasizing shape. You can choose more succulents because they feature their own distinct shapes. Aeonium is especially popular in modern gardens. You can also choose plants such as New Zealand flax and kangaroo paw. Both plants feature distinct coloration that emphasizes their shape.

Also consider plants that will help highlight the shape of your stone. For instance, certain ornamental grasses, like blue fescue, grow in mounds. You could use the mounds to echo any arches in the stone work.

Install a beautiful, modern rock garden to complement your house. The Rock Garden has the stones you need as the basis for this attractive landscaping style. Contact us today to learn how we can help.