[RosieCotton]

Have you thought about using landscape fabric under your rock garden? It's one of the best investsments you can make if you're not a committed weed-puller-upper.

What's landscape fabric? I've never heard of such a thing! But it sounds intriguing. Is it expensive? I'm on a shoestring budget here...planting seeds instead of plants for the most part since plants cost more...

[Lil'freeper]

It's a tightly-knit mesh "fabric"- usually vinyl or something similar. It allows water to pass through to the soil, but not sunlight. This blocks weeds.

So you prepare your soil and lay down the fabric. There are special staples that push into the ground to hold it in place. Then you cut Xs in the fabric and plant your plants in the soil underneath. You top it with mulch, gravel, or whatever.

It's not too expensive, comes in big rolls. I get mine at Walmart. Price is based on how many years it will last. Super good investment.