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ARTICLES
THE ROCK GARDEN
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
Very often we are asked to speak on rock gardening
and all its aspects, including construction, maintenance and suitable
plants. We have put together the following general guidelines:
Planning the Garden
The design of a rock garden should be left to the individual's own unique
needs and creativity, but a rock garden can be undertaken in stages
and gradually expanded, so consider starting small.
The best site for a rock garden is sunny but not hot, such as a slope
away from the hottest sun, but open to the sky. If you are lucky enough
to have natural rock out crops on your property, simply create your
garden around them. The next step, which is the most important, is preparing
the bed that would mostly suit these plants' needs - and that is to
provide excellent drainage, adequate moisture and an unrestricted root-run.
To achieve this, certain ingredients would be necessary.
If drainage is a problem you must excavate or remove about 6- 12 inches
of sub-soil, Crushed stone is then added to a depth of 4 to 8 inches
then add 2 to 4 inches of equal parts of coarse sand and leaf mold or
peat. If your sub-soil is very coarse, sloping, and well-drained, simply
dig in coarse sand and peat.
Once the ground is prepared, rocks are placed. The rocks can either
be collected from your property or specially purchased from quarries.
They can be large or small, completely or partially buried or loosely
arranged on top to create the effect you want.
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These diagrams are examples of how rocks
can be positioned together with conifers. |
Next, conifers and dwarf shrubs are added. They form the living architecture
of the garden, softening the lines of the rocks and providing backdrops
to the flowering
alpines.
In choosing your plants begin with the choice plants that are the essence
of the rock garden, filling in with background plants later. Or carpet
your new rockwork quickly
with spreading mat plants and replace them with alpine gems gradually,
as you gain confidence.
When all the planting is done, sprinkle some bone meal and mulch with
pea gravel.
If space is a problem in your garden for alpines an alternative can
be troughs or containers.
Once the rock garden is prepared and planted maintaining it is less
labour intensive than other types of gardens.
Maintenance of a Rock Garden
- Watering: Just like any other newly planted garden, careful watch
and water for the first year after it has been planted until plants
have become established. Thereafter, water only when necessary. Best
time to water is in the morning.
- Spring Cleaning: Again, just like any garden, remove any covering
that was used; dead leaves and plants that did not make it through the
winter and replace with new ones. Also, weed if needed
- To Over Winter: Trim away all soft and rotting shoots. Top dress
where medium has wasted away, with sandy top soil. Alpines like to be
kept on the dry side during winter. Protect south facing plants from
harsh frost and bright winter sun by covering them with conifer bows.
- Fertilization: Most alpines grow in very austere conditions, therefore,
do not need to be fertilized. If you must, mix into soil an adequate
dusting of bonehead or any other slow- release fertilizer, but always
use one low in nitrogen, and not later than mid-June. Do not use stable
manure for alpines. Nitrogen encourages lush growth to the detriment
of other plant requirements, such as bowering and hardiness of plant,
through a strong root system.
Easy Care Rock Garden Varieties
| Achillea Alyssum Androsace Antennaria Aquilegia Arabis Arenaria Armeria Aster Aubrieta Campanula |
Dianthus Draba Dryas (Mountain Avens) Erinus alpinus Erysimum Geranium Globularia Gypsophila Helianthemum Iberis Penstemon |
Phlox Pterocephalus Ranunculus Saponaria Scabiosa Sedum Silene Thymus Veronica |
List of Dwarf Shrubs and Conifers
| Shrubs Dwarf Hollies (llex SPP) Boxwoods (Buxus SPP) Daphnes (Daphne SPP) Small willows (Salix SPP) Brooms (Genista SPP) Sprireas (Spirea SPP) Rhododendrons |
Conifers Juniperus (Junipers) Chamaecyparis (False Cypress) Abies (Firs) Picea (Spruce) Tsuga (Hemlock) Pinus (Pine) |
Bulbs Suited for Rock Gardens
(Corms, Rhizomes, Tubers)
Alliums - low-growing
Anemone SPP
Crocus SPP
Hardy Cyclamen
Fritillaria Meleagris
Galanthus SPP (SnowdropS)
Iris SPP (Dwarf Iris)
Narcissus SPP (Dwarf Daffodils)
Tulipa SPP (Species Tulips)
List of Books
- “Alpine Gardening - A Beginner's Guide” by W.F.W. Harding.
An Alpine Garden Society Guide.
- “A Guide to Rock Gardening” by Richard Bird.
- “Alpines” by Will lngwersen.
- “Manual of Alpine Plants” by Will Ingwersen.
- “A Rock Garden Handbook for Beginners” from the North American Rock Garden Society
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