Rock & roll

Mark Rayner creates a modern rockery – without a rock in sight.

You will need: Four concrete corner blocks, paintbrushes and an old brush, Resene Aquapel water repellent, Resene Concrete Primer, Resene Sandtex Mediterranean Effect, Resene Lumbersider in the following colours: Resene Blackcurrant, Resene Fuchsia, Resene Christalle and Resene Pompadour, two 40 litre bags of good quality potting mix, organic weedkiller, weed sprayer, one lavender 'Purple King', four Aubretia 'Purple Cascades', two Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue', one Mesembryanthemum 'Purple Splendour', eight Verbena 'Imagination', one dark purple trailing petunia and two mauve trailing petunia.

Step 1
Seal the four small faces and interior cavities of each concrete block with Resene Waterborne Aquapel water repellent. Allow to dry.

Step 2
Prime the two long faces and upper edges of each concrete block with Resene Concrete Primer. Allow to dry.

Step 3
Using an old paintbrush and stippling technique, apply one coat of Resene Sandtex to the two long faces and upper edges of each concrete block. Allow to dry.

Step 4
Paint the two long faces and upper edges of one concrete block with Resene Blackcurrant. Repeat with the remaining concrete blocks using Resene Fuchsia‚ Resene Pompadour and Resene Christalle. Allow to dry, then apply a second coat to each.

Step 5
Spray the area where the rockery is to be situated using the organic weedkiller and weedsprayer.

Step 6
Position the four corner blocks as shown. Fill the interior cavities and centre hole with potting mix.

Step 7
Plant two aubretia in the front left cavity and the mesembryanthemum to the right of this.

Step 8
Moving anti-clockwise, plant the other two aubretia (front right), two scabiosa (middle right), two lilac petunias (rear middle/right), four verbena (rear middle/ left), one dark purple petunia (rear left), four remaining verbena (middle left) and lavender (centre). Lay weedmatting around the rockery and cover with a bark mulch.

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