Rock gardens, also known as rockeries, are designed to imitate natural rocky features, such as cliffs, gorges, sloping terraces or outcrops. They are traditionally planted with alpines and other rock garden plants which naturally grow in stony and hilly ground and so thrive in these well-drained conditions.

This section provides a comprehensive guide to planning, preparing and building a rock garden, from selecting the site to positioning the stones. You may also want to take a look at our guides to alpines and other rock garden plants in our Planting section; this contains help and information on buying, planting and routine care.