Most gardens are designed to be beautiful and relaxing, but traditional one are a pain to maintain. A rock garden is a less strenuous option. There’s no mowing or lawn trimming, very little call for fertilizers, or even water. A rock garden is ideal for those of us who do not enjoy the feel of our hands moving through the soil.

If your stress levels as pushing you to find innovative ways to relax, a rock garden may be exactly what you need. Here are a few steps to take to enjoy your very own.

1. When creating a rock garden first clear a patch of soil. One way is to cover some grass with newspaper and then putting soil on top of it. Sandy soil drains well, which is what rock garden plants prefer. The newspaper will eventually smother the grass. If you have naturally heavy soil, instead of newspaper put down six inches of gravel and crushed rock and then cover with two inches of sand. Or, you may simply mix the soil in your excavation site with an equal part of sand. The limestone that is abundant in Jamaica can also work.
2. Create a second inner circle of rocks. The goal of the garden is to cover as much of the surface as possible with rocks.
3. Plants found in mountainous areas work well in rock gardens and have the ability to survive droughts. Pick plants that are small so as not to cover up the rocks. You may purchase them at any nursery.
4. Rock gardens look best in the sun, so choose plants that love sun.
5. Try to select plants with the same growing needs, but different textures.
6. Do not select too many plants because this will crowd your rock garden and increase your workload.
7. Arrange the rocks to your liking with plants interspersed. Put the plant in first and then add the surrounding rocks. It’s easier to move a rock than to dig up a plant.
8. Try to stick to a colour scheme. Select rocks and plants that do not clash with the colour of your home or soil. If you already have outcropping in your backyard, enhance it by using similar rocks to create your garden.
9. Remember, even soil in a rock garden needs enrichment and protection from weeds. Instead of dried leaves that might look out of place, use stone for mulch, preferably stone that fits in with your colour scheme.
10. Different size rocks can give the garden an interesting look. For a natural look make sure that half of each rock is hidden from view.

As for after care, there is no digging and separating of plants. If you have to remove weeds then do so by hand. Herbicides might affect desirable plants in such a small space. Watch out too for moist debris, some plants will rot when they come into contact with them.