As you can imagine, therefore, the choice of stones for rock gardens requires a careful and thoughtful evaluation, also because to create an orderly and elegant space it is not enough to put stones and stones together without a specific project or order. If true, in fact, that even in this way the plants would be able to grow in an environment suitable for their development and survival, it is equally true that the aesthetic effect would not be the best: in short, the difference between a rock garden and a stony ground it must remain evident. The construction of a rock garden, therefore, turns out to be quite demanding: not because it requires particular knowledge, but precisely from the physical point of view, since it requires the movement and transfer of stones, sometimes of considerable size, as well as plants and of the earth. In order to obtain a harmonious, proportionate and pleasant final result, it will be good to evaluate in advance the feasibility of the ideas, both as regards the size of the surface to be occupied, and as regards any expenses that will have to be incurred. Furthermore, it must be emphasized that a garden characterized by many stones requires limited maintenance, as it favors the growth and development of rustic plants capable of adapting without problems to the most difficult conditions, and therefore in need of minimal maintenance.

On the other hand, it is wrong to believe that a rock garden necessarily requires quite large spaces, in the sense that, by giving up a large number of plants and monumental constructions, an environment of this type can be created even if only a few square meters are available. . A few stones are enough, as long as they are arranged wisely, and a land able to satisfy the needs of the plants to start the work, taking into account that, unless you use stones purchased in garden centers, the construction costs they are rather limited, and the most substantial expenditure is represented by the purchase of plants.

Speaking of stones, they can be mixed with crushed bricks and pebbles. At this point, all that remains is to choose the soil, which should preferably be composed of crushed stone, medium-sized sand, organic fertilizer and garden soil: the ideal mix for alpine plants and rock plants, which can have both vertical and a horizontal development.

As for sun exposure, a garden with stones it needs very sunny and warm positions, protected from the gusts of wind and facing upwards. Slightly open soils are also ideal, with the fronds of the trees penetrated by the filtering sun, also because they prevent the withering of some species due to the excessive heat of the rays. Conversely, a garden completely in the shade of trees, as well as being too cool, subjects the plants to a continuous dripping in case of rain, obviously harmful. As mentioned, it is possible to exploit the land with slight differences in height, possibly connected with stairs or terraces.

The slopes and terracing must not be too accentuated: both due to the risk of stones and stones falling from above, and because the ground risks being washed away in the presence of particularly violent rains. And the same reason why, on the other hand, also the drainage deserves to be observed carefully, given that, once the stones have been placed, intervening to dig and fertilize the soil turns out to be complicated compared to what would happen with borders and normal flower beds.

In the presence of significant slopes, however, you can opt for the creation of stone walls, not very high, and possibly the construction of a terrace. The plants suffer from excessively dry areas, which do not provide the roots with the moisture necessary to favor their development; on the other hand, an excessively high level of humidity must be avoided, as it would give rise to root rot which would cause serious damage to plant species.