Landscaping with Boulders: The Big Rocks That Changed My Garden

Landscaping with boulders wasnt exactly part of my original plan. When I first started sorting out the backyard, I was thinking flower beds, maybe a winding path, some herbs in the corner¦ you know, the usual.

Then my mate Jess pops round, takes one look at the space and says, You know what this needs? A couple of massive boulders.

I laughed. You want me to just chuck a rock the size of a sheep in the garden?
But she was dead serious. So later that evening, out of pure curiosity, we had a look on Trade Me.

Turns out, people actually sell boulders online. Some of them were stunningmossy, rough, the kind of rocks that look like theyve been sitting in a forest clearing since dinosaurs roamed past.

Next thing I know, weve picked out two and had them delivered. Just like that, the garden project took a sharp left turn into the world of landscaping with stone.

Why Even Bother with a Boulder?

I didnt realise it straight away, but boulders bring something special to a garden. Its not just about size or weightits the grounding effect.

They anchor the space. Suddenly everything elsethe plants, the paths, the garden furniturehas something solid to respond to. It makes the space feel more natural, more complete.

One of ours went in near the lemon tree, half-buried so it looked like itd always been there. The other ended up nestled next to a path, surrounded by native grasses and creeping thyme. Easy as.

Placement Is Everything

If theres one thing I learned fastits that you dont just toss a boulder anywhere and hope for the best.

Placement makes or breaks it. Too proud and it looks like a weird sculpture. Too hidden and it just gets lost.

I found that setting it slightly into the soillike its sunken in and comfortablemakes all the difference.

Theyre great for anchoring odd corners, marking an edge of a path, or breaking up a flat space.

If youve got a slope (and plenty of us in NZ do), theyre perfect for adding stability and structure without looking too engineered.

The Plant Pairing Game

This is where things start to come together. Boulders on their own are coolbut tucked among plants? Even better.

Weve planted around ours with a mix of carex, low ferns, and a bit of creeping groundcover that softens the edges. On a good day, it looks like something out of a native bushwalk.

The nice part is that you can go lush or low-maintenance depending on what youre into. Succulents and hardy natives do just fine around stones.

They dont mind a bit of heat, and they love the reflected warmth from the rock on cooler nights.

Getting It In (Without Wrecking Your Back)

Full transparencyboulders are heavy. Like, really heavy. Dont be fooled by how chill they look sitting in someones yard.

Getting ours delivered was probably the smartest decision of this whole garden saga. Trying to shift that kind of weight yourself isnt just riskyits borderline impossible unless youve got equipment and a few burly friends.

Once its in place, though, its there for good. No weeding, no watering, no pruning. Just a solid bit of nature doing its thing.

The Beauty of Time

Boulders age well. Better than me, to be fair. Over time, they weather.

They get a bit of lichen, a bit of moss if the conditions are right, and they just settle into the scene like they were meant to be there all along. Thats the charm.

You dont have to fuss over themtheyll hold their own year after year while everything else shifts around them.

Final Thoughts

I didnt expect to become someone who gets excited over rocks, but here we are.

A couple of well-placed boulders brought a kind of quiet strength to my garden that I didnt even realise was missing. Theyve made the space feel more intentional, more connected to the land.