32 Backyard Rock Garden Ideas for a Serene Outdoor Oasis.BaoHa

1. Stepping Stone Path.

Create a charming path using round stepping stones that lead through your garden. These circular pavers were sourced from a local landscape supplier – Soil and Slab City. The rocks are natural glacial river stones found in the South of Western Australia.

2. Gravel Pathway.

Lay down a gravel path for a rustic and low-maintenance garden walkway. The wood is 2×6 cedar stained for the risers and 2×12 stained cedar for the step. To keep the rocks separate from the garden bed, a flexible metal edge is used. The plant in the center of this image is a Japanese garden grass – Hakonechloa macra. (via Dabah Landscape Designs)

3. Brick Walkway.

Use bricks to create a classic and timeless garden path. Here, a brick pathway leads to a raised patio with a pergola. The bases are precast concrete wall blocks. (via Grant and Power Landscaping)

4. Flagstone Path.

Lay down irregularly shaped flagstones for a natural and organic-looking pathway. The tree is an Eastern Flowering Dogwood, and the white flowering shrub is Mexican Orange or Choisya ternata. In the background (center of the photo) is a fragrant Rhododendron ‘Loderi King George’ that gets big like a tree in time. The lower right-hand corner plant is a hardy impatiens, Impatiens oemiana, a deciduous perennial which is grown mostly for the foliage, though it does get a yellow flower late in the summer.

The next yellowish low mounding shrub closer to the fence panel and at the base of the dogwood tree is an evergreen bush honeysuckle, Lonicera nitida ‘Lemon Beauty’, a very tough plant in the Pacific Northwest. This is variegated green and yellow. It also comes in a straight green form. It does flower (not fragrant and not very showy) and then gets some berries later in the season (also not particularly showy). (via Plan-it Earth Design)

5. Wood Slices Path.

Arrange wood slices or logs to create a unique and rustic garden path. These “wood pavers” are from an oak tree that was of sentimental value that had fallen on the property. The wood was recycled into pavers. (via Sweetlake Interior Design)

6. Pebble Mosaic Path.

Arrange colorful pebbles in intricate patterns to create a beautiful mosaic pathway. The process for laying this out depends partially on the area in which it will be set. Soil, stone, depth, etc play into the base requirements. The basics are excavating the area to the desired depth, setting your edging, and any sub-base needed, possibly sand or other base fill. Laying the stone out also depends on the type and sizes of the stones you select. Mortar is one way to set the patterns. Due to the intricate design, it’s best to have it permanently set. Sometimes, the stones come in patterns already adhered to mesh, but that will depend on where you buy the stones. (via Austin Design and Build Solutions)

7. Japanese Zen Path.

Create a serene and tranquil path using simple gravel and strategically placed rocks. A Japanese Tea House is on the left side of this image. The gravel path contains a Japanese dry river bed and an Inukshuk sculpture, metaphysically designed. The surrounding garden is the inner Roji garden and contains a Roji stepping stone path designed with a metaphysical pattern. (via Miriam’s River House Designs)

8. Mossy Stepping Stone Path.

Let moss grow naturally between stepping stones to create a magical and whimsical path.

9. Tile Pathway.

Use colorful tiles to create a vibrant and eye-catching pathway. Here, bluestone pathways traverse the property, unifying outdoor rooms and directing flow from one space to the next. The chairs are from Lane Venture. The flowers closest to the fireplace are Twist and Shout (lacecap) Hydrangeas. (via Greenwise Organic Lawn Care and Landscape Design)

10. Concrete and Crushed Oyster Shells.

Locally sourced crushed oyster shell is a great alternative to gravel and can be used on pathways, driveways, and many other hardscaping projects. This pathway leads to a backyard firepit of a home on Bainbridge Island, Washington. (via Shellscapes)

11. Paver Pathway.

Lay down concrete pavers in various shapes and patterns for a clean and modern garden path. Landscape fabric should be placed under the pea gravel. (via Outside Influence Landscape Design Group)

12. DIY Vegetable Garden Pathway.

Domesticated Nomad)

13. Wildflower Path.

Create a meandering path through a wildflower garden for a burst of color and fragrance. This flagstone pathway features Armeria, Lavender, Dymondia, and Fortnight Lily. (via Zeterre Landscape Architecture)

14. Wooden Boardwalk.

Construct a raised wooden boardwalk for a unique and elevated garden path. Pictured above is a curved Mangaris walkway sealed with Penofin hardwood stain. The planks were custom made and each piece was tapered to achieve the curves. Fasteners were plugged for a blind fastened appearance. (via SD Independent Construction)

15. Curved Pathway.

Design a winding and curved path to add visual interest and a sense of exploration to your garden. The design of this zippered stone pathway creates visual interest as it winds its way through the garden. (via Zeterre Landscape Architecture)

16. Secret Garden Path.

Create a hidden path by planting tall shrubs or using trellises covered in climbing vines. This custom-built arbor showcases the detail in the woodwork while putting on a show when the Carolina Yellow Jasmine is in bloom. A spectacular entrance to a secret garden. The burgundy plant in the background is a Japanese Maple. The pink plant at the bottom is an Azalea Kurume ‘Hinodegiri’. (via Outside Landscape Group)

17. Fern-lined Path.

Plant lush ferns along the edges of your path to create a cool and shady walkway. The material for this natural pathway is pine duff from white pine trees in Maine. The ferns are hayscented ferns — Dennstaedtia punctilobula. (via Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design)

18. Stepped Path.

Incorporate steps into your garden path to accommodate changes in elevation and create a dynamic design. The stone is Black Hills Cherokee Stone. Kamchatium Sedum is the yellow flowering ground cover. (via Runde’s Landscape Contractors)

19. Succulent Garden Path.

Parasoleil is the maker of the laser-cut copper panel on the wall. Agave attenuata (Velvet Agave) – the brighter green, rosette-shaped plants. There is also a Felt Plant (Kalanchoe beharensis) at the left edge of the photo under the metal art piece. The pathway is decomposed granite with a binder mixed in. The two are mixed together dry, laid down in 2″ lifts, and watered and compacted between lifts. (via Grace Design Associates)

20. Whimsical Pathway.

Pammiejo And Friends)

21. Bamboo Walkway.

Plant bamboo along the sides of your path to create a tropical and exotic garden walkway. The bamboo is a clumping variety called Bambusa eutuldoides viridi-vittata, Asian lemon bamboo. This variety is a clumper and you do not need to contain it, however, do allow an 8′ by 10′ area for its ultimate growth. Bamboo does require constant maintenance and you will need to do some research for the specific variety you choose. Once planted, it will become a beautiful focal point and add a stunning tropical accent. Depending on where you live, most clumping bamboo will take several years to get established, but once they do, they grow fast.

Other plants associated with this garden are: Variegated Ginger, Ardisia Crispa, Xanadou Philodendron, Acanthus, Crinum Lillies, Indigo, Gt. Liriope, arborvitae, Autumn Fern, Foxtail Fern, Hollyleaf Fern, Hosta Francee, Dwarf monkey grass, Regular monkey grass, and annual color.

22. Trellis Arch Path.

Install an arch with a trellis and let climbing plants create a natural canopy over your path. A romantic metal arch opens to the backyard with a hanging pendant light. The arch is made from metal rebar panels that are used to reinforce concrete driveways (purchased from a garden center). If you make yourself you will need to bend the panels stake the bottoms into the ground. White potato vine grows on the arch. The gardens include lavender, ornamental grasses, tree roses, and vines. The tree on the left is a camphor tree. Recycled concrete pieces were used as “flagstone.” (via Eden Makers by Shirley Bovshow)

23. Water Feature Path.

Design a path that leads to a small pond or fountain, incorporating the soothing sound of water into your garden experience. Here, granite stepping stones lead from the entrance of the garden and gradually wind their way over a stream bed that meanders into a pond filled with Koi. The stones appear to float over the surface of the water and lead the visitor to the front porch. The garden has a lush tropical feel, achieved with a mixture of large-leafed perennials such as Ligularia, Hosta, and Petasites (Butterbur), along with various groundcovers and other perennials including Ferns, Iris, and Japanese Forest Grass. (via AguaFina Gardens International)

24. Stone Slab Pathway.

Lay down large stone slabs for a grand and majestic garden pathway. This garden pathway connects the front yard to the backyard. Perennials and shrubs bloom throughout the season providing continual visual interest. The full range broken bluestones are set on a 1/4 or 3/8 inch crushed granite. The granite is similar in look to pea gravel but more angular which allows them to sit more secure and kick up on the bluestone. There is a selection of creeping thyme and other low spreading plants placed in the gravel to soften the edges of the stone. The purple plants are Mazus Repatans. (via The Todd Group)

25. Solar Light Path.