Many ppl do not like landscape fabric. If needed to be removed at some point, it is usually pita...and it doesn't really stop weeds from growing. Roots of some plants could (usually will) grow into it too, so plants could get ripped off with the fabric. But from what you say, there is no weed problem. As a separation between soil & gravel, landscape fabric is used extensively. It is usually a thicker type, not the thinnest, flimsy stuff usually sold in garden centers. But even that may work for your purpose...

What is your main reason for using it: from your description I understand that it is from keeping gritty substrate from sinking into existing soil - am I correct? How much substrate are you planning/need to put on top? Hens&chicks will grow in minimal amount of 'soil', they can grow easily over the rocks. Here are some photos, not sure if you can tell but they grow over the rocks:

I would imagine that you would plant taller plants (like many hardy sedums are) close to the house, with semps and ground-cover types everywhere else. I think it would work...you have good edging that would stop gravel/grit or bark from falling or washing out.

How much snow will accumulate there in winter? Would you say that existing soil drains well? Even bark or chips or mulch will eventually sink in as they decompose, but it will take bit longer - 2-3 yrs probably? In my previous house, I had some landscape rocks and there were semps planted in-between and behind, in regular garden soil with mulch on top. There was np with drainage since rocks were min 18" and taller, creating 2 levels, so back drained well.

If existing soil drains well, I don't see problem with bark staying too wet for too long.

Which look do you prefer: very xeric garden, with rocks and gravel? Or rather bark/mulch?

If my garden, and I would be using pea gravel over very fine soil, I would use landscape fabric in this case.

As for aranging the rocks, it may not be so easy - you want as 'natural' look as possible. Various sizes. And as if the rocks were just 'washed' on, scattered, thrown on...what you already have looks quite OK to me :) As long as they are partially buried, not just sitting on top - but I think you know that anyway.

@gardengal48 Thank you! The soil here does drain very well. I guess I'm overthinking.

I assumed that having fabric underneath makes it easier to lift off any stone/rock if you want to refresh or make changes to landscaping. Thankfully, weed doesn't grow much in this strip due to the lack of moisture. It just barely survives in this dry soil or is very easy to pull out.

Hmm, bark mulch or fabric...

@rina_ Correct: the reason for fabric is to keep the smaller stone/gravel from sinking into dirt. I know it would gobble it up quickly because it's like a pile of sand right now. I'm going for the xeric garden look, with the entire area covered by stone/rocks. Drainage is very good but we do get quite a bit of snow some years.

The problem is that the largest rocks I have are relatively small and I don't want to completely bury them. I wouldn't go with more than 2 inches of gravel.

Also, thank you for reminding me that the tall plants need to go in the back! I should move the sedums to the wall.

Hi, great spot you have there for a hardy succulent garden! I am in CA, so know nothing about cold/snow etc. BUT.....I have built alot of succulent gardens, one thing that comes to mind...I have used landscape cloth to build a "faux container garden in the ground" I did this becasue I didn;t want to dig into the hard clay soil. First I dug down and removed about 4 inches of the hard clay soil. Then I lined the bottom/and sides, of this shallow "container", (clay container, thats how hard our clay is). Now I've got a shallow conatiner I can plant succulents in. FIlled it with good succulent soil, Placed my rock where I wanted them and had fun. Later, after some things had rooted wee into the soil, I get succulents that I had grown into larger containers, and dig a hole the same size as the larger container, but not as deep. Pull out the root bound mature succulent, and place it in the too-shallow-for-it hole. Then build up around it with soil, rocks etc. Effectively using the rootball of a mature plant to create berms, little mountains and valleys. I also use planted containers sometimes the same way. Have fun!

Sinking containers is ok too, but I believe that zmat wants permanent succulent garden? Creating 'clay container' wouldn't be such god idea in zone with lots of snow - that would be, IMO, the worse solution. Excess water will not drain (or very slowly) and the worse for plants is the wet feet during winter - freeze and thaw cycles happen often even if it is cold, but sunny. That is what kills many plants, not only succulents. It may work in Lisa's climate. But OP doesn't have clay soil so it wouldn't be problem.

zmat

2" sounds OK. When I suggested that rocks should be buried, I mean that they should not just sit on top of gravel - the bottom of the rock shouldn't be visible. If my place, I would also get some river rocks - maybe around 2-3", and throw them around the large rocks - just like in nature, there are many different sizes of rocks in any landscape.

If using landscape fabric, you don't want to see any of it. If you think you my want to lift it on occasion, definitely get the thicker, almost felt-like type. I am using some right now for a patio - soil has been dug up, and layer of crushed rock is going on top. The fabric will keep stone from sinking into soil below.

I would not recommend landscape fabric for a typical garden bed where perennials would be planted. Actually, I personally wouldn't use it for garden beds at all. As I said, the weeds will still grow, any seeds will germinate on top of it (for example, the maple or other trees...) But for this dry garden, that is also relatively weed-free, well draining, has edging keeping all rocks & stones in and needing relatively shallow planting depths, and for purpose OP needs it, I believe it would work. But this is just my opinion...

eta: btw, the sedum will probably grow quite large (if it is one I think it is...), so you may not want it right next to edging or it will be encroaching on a walkway. It may not happen first year - depends how well it grows.

Rina, thanks for all that. trying to learn more about the different weather patterns and how to work with them. I lived in Boulder Colorado for a few years, but was not growing succies, only perennials and summer vegetables. It was awesome climate to garden in, but pretty limited in what I tried to do, and never learned much about the way snow effects the soil, drainage etc. I don't quite understand why the OP "not having clay soil" would effect things, if you have landscape cloth on top on the soil that is there, then a good mix of succulent soil on top of it, then plants, stones etc. Cutting through the landscape cloth for deeper rooted plants, setting the rocks slightly down into the soil, like you said, and then adding in the cosmetic gravel, small stone, river rocks etc. Really what I am getting at is the drainage issue and understanding why Michigan snow/rain would present a drainage issue in a "faux container garden in the ground"? For mine I only used small shallow rooted plants, but did cut holes in the cloth when I later put large plants in, so they could access the actual ground. This method kept the roots shallow on plants so they were easier to remove for overwintering. Appreciated all your input on this:-)

Lisa

Sorry, what I meant is that since zmat doesn't have clay soil, he/she doesn't need to worry about it.

Clay drains very slowly. In areas with lots of moisture (rain or snow) it will sit in that 'clay bowl' for too long, keeping plant's roots wet for too long. It would act like a container without drainage hole. That's why I said that would be the worse solution...

During winter, hardy plants do very well if under snow cover. But area like zmat has will heat up more on sunny days (even if it is quite cold otherwise) since there is a wall and also rocks & stones (creating a microclimate). I do not see that as a big problem at all, unless there is poor drainage: snow will melt while sunny, but water doesn't drain fast enough before it starts freezing again. This will kill many plants. Just the same as in containers with poor drainage.

This is common problem with planting any perennials, trees, shrubs. If there is a 'bowl' - which ppl often create by digging a bigger hole in badly draining soil, then filling it with very good soil (compost, manure) - roots do not actually grow into surrounding soil, only into a 'good' soil. They end up filling this 'bowl' as they would a container, very often with roots circling. I have seen trees dying and when dug up, it was visible that roots didn't grow into native soil. (This is even worse if the root ball was very compacted and roots not spread). So it is best to add only very little or not any of 'good' soil and also mix it well with native soil, to encourage roots growing and spreading into native soil. Same problem happens if there is water filling that 'faux bowl' - either thaw&freeze cycle in winter, or roots sitting in a 'muck' after rains, for too long. They can't breathe and start dying.

With clay soil, drainage is always problem. Adding lots of organic matter - I am talking about planting in ground - will help but needs to be done often to be of help (in a way, same as mixing lots of perlite with C&S soil - just a handful of perlite (or pumice or any gritty ingredient) will not improve drainage). If possible, planting on a slope would help a lot: grading the clay soil, than putting 'good' soil on top will provide drainage down the slope. In area with little moisture during the year, it may not be as much of a problem (?) - much less water accumulating, and there is no freeze. But any bowl - faux container created in ground or otherwise, should have drainage hole...I would not advice anyone to create a 'faux bowl' in ground, unless they want to grow bog plants.

@lisasfbay9b I love your method of a faux container with landscape fabric and will certainly use in appropriate circumstances. Thank you! I just looove Californian succulent rock gardens. I've watched quite a few videos.

Guys, we have loamy soil. (I finally asked my husband what the right term is. Ha.) Drainage is very good. Sometimes, too good, but that's a different story.

After discussing this back and forth with my husband, I decided not to use fabric. He promised to bring more larger rocks so that I don't need to worry about them sinking in too much. And when they do sink, he promised to bring more rocks... Considering this, I probably won't be using much or any pea gravel.

@rina_ Thank you so much for all the information and sharing your knowledge! I now have a better idea of how the drainage works based on soil type.

I'll be sure to post a picture of the final look.

Great solution zmat, bigger rocks are always FUN!! OK, RIna, I get you. Glad we had this talk:-) I've been gardening in hard clay for over 20 years, so had all the info you gave and love how thoroughly you explained it all. Devilish details of my project that I didn't, but should have, included are that my "clay bowl" was atop a small hill in my sloped yard and I 'drilled' drainage holes in it and double check the drainage over time, during the first year or so....here's a photo.

So this is why I try to read all the way through a long thread... to avoid getting bad advice from someone like me:-) in some cases incomplete = bad. The forst shot is from the side side, where the slope allows fro the stairs I am standing on to shoot, the second is from the high side, where the bes starts at rgound level, and rises into a berm before it slopes down on the other three 3 sides. So there is an actual clay bowl underneath, but over time I have built up the top/center, using large established succulents' root balls to stablize the mound, which rises about 18 inches above the ground level you see in photo 2. The stoney birdbath and the large pink echeveria both sit on the peak.

@lisasfbay9b Wow! What a gorgeous garden!!! I love that bird bath and all the colors and textures. You've done an amazing job.

Since I promised to post the final look, I feel obliged to do so. We ended up getting a bunch of field stone from a local farmer. I planted chicks and hens, a variety of sedums, yarrow, and cone flowers. After hating this strip of dry dirt for 4 years, I adore the final result and want even more rock gardens around our property.

Thanks again everyone for sharing your knowledge and advice.

That looks pretty good! Great work. Good to hear you are enjoying it. Good luck with creating more beds, and hope you'll post other photos.