How to install a rock garden by Barbra Flowers, Master Gardener

My husband and I recently decided to install a rock garden.   Or rather, I decided and he foolishly agreed.   A local nursery was giving away some landscaping rocks so we went by and picked up a load for a patio for our outdoor firepit.   This led to the rock garden idea.   We have a west facing slope that gets full sun and grass will not grow there.   “Let’s dig it up and plant rocks!”   I said. Okay, so now I will tell you how to install a rock garden.   I will not tell you how we did it because we did it wrong!   My first piece of advice…don’t do it! Well, if you must…here’s how: Gather the rocks.   It took us three loads…we thought it would only take one.   We, or rather, my husband has developed some new muscles from carrying all the rocks.   Use a wheelbarrow and/or a dolly.   We didn’t…that was dumb of us. Dig down 18 inches.   Hopefully your soil isn’t solid clay like ours.   At our age slinging a pickax and shovel is no picnic.   Why are we doing this we asked ourselves?   To