TheLGN - Home Decorating The Little Green Notebook - Get Inspiration...Be Inspiration

Adding a rock wall to any garden can make it look professionally done and add architectural interest!   You may choose to build the rock wall surrounding your house, underneath large trees in your yard or create a bed along the perimeter of your property.

Mark the line of your wall	Remove grass	Stake a string level	Remove excess dirt
Make sure rocks are level	Lay your first row

1.  Begin by thinking of the shape you wish to create.  Use the Eco-friendly Outdoor Marking Paint to mark the edge, add curves for more interest.  Or, you can use a Garden Hose by winding it along the border you are planning, just as easy to create curves.

2.  Use the Manual Garden Edger to dig out the sod (grass to just below its roots) along the curves you have marked.  This is the line that your rock wall will follow!  If you need sod in any other area of your yard, use the sod you are digging out to save yourself time and money!  Place the sod in your wheelbarrow to carry away.

3.  Continue by removing all the sod within the garden area by cutting it into small squares, in a grid like fashion.  Making the squares no larger than 12 inches makes it easiest to remove the individual pieces.  Removing the sod helps you to avoid having grass grow into your planting bed.

4.  Tie a 4-5 foot String to two small stakes and place the String Level in the middle, attached on the String.  Put the Stakes into the ground, following your pattern.  Press the Stakes in the ground until you reach the height of the first layer of rocks you will place.  This step ensures you will have a level rock wall, starting from the bottom row.  Keep in mind that by the end, you may need 2 or 3 layers of stone in some spots, depending on the existing soil grading when you begin.

5.  Place your rocks under the leveled string.  If you need to dig out more dirt to make the rocks leveled with string, use the trowel to slice away.  You may need to add a slight bit of dirt to other areas.

6.  As you lay each rock, use the Carpenter’s level to ensure the rock is level in both directions.

7.  Once the first layer of stone is level, you may make the wall as high as you would like by simply placing rocks on top of the first layer.

9.  Use at least 3-4 inches of mulch on top of the dirt to decrease chance of weeds entering the garden.

10.  Now your rock wall garden is complete, you are ready to plant!!!!