GARDEN IDEAS
Rock Gardens
Rock gardens can be an impressive work of art or simply a feature to cover up a boring spot in your garden.
Either way they are a great addition to your outside space.
You could get into the beauty of the stone itself and build garden sculptures. These could be positioned anywhere if no plant life is involved. However if you want to build a traditional rockery, you want to get it right first time. The work is far too heavy to do more than once!
Positioning:
The rockery must be well drained - mix soil with a fair amount of gravel, so the plants don't dry out too much or get waterlogged.
An unused grassy/weedy bank is often used where possible. Rockeries should always be positioned with the surrounding area in mind.
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Avoid positioning near children's play areas.
Keep a close eye on the safety aspect. Rocks are very heavy and can be sharp. Take care!
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Think about the plants you want to grow...
Are they wind-resistant? Do they need full sun? Or partial shade? What area will the plants cover? How many will you need?
Do a little research into the type of plants you can grow over rock. Here are a few ideas...
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Plants for Rock Gardens:
Experiment with your rock garden. Small plants can usually be bought quite cheaply at your local garden centre. Or try starting parts of your garden with seed, to reduce the cost even further. Collect the seed or buy from a reputable seed supplier.
Thompson and Morgan (UK) have pages of beautiful plants.
Geranium bohemicum 'Orchid Blue'
Masses of 2cm (¾in.) flowers of orchid-blue, veined in purple-violet, borne on bushy plants.
Remember to try herbs, flowers, bulbs and even small shrubs if your rockery is large enough. Choose plants that will flower at different times of the year so there will always be a splash of colour. Tip: When replacing plants or planting annuals in last years spaces, mix in a little compost to replenish the nutrients in the soil.
Building:
You want to be able to pull out weeds, add plants and generally maintain your rock garden. Before you start to build, do a little planning.
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If you can't reach every part of your garden from the edge, you will need to incorporate stepping stones, to enable you to get to the centre easily and safely. Your stepping stones should be fairly large with a flat side. They will need to be half buried in soil to keep them stable and wobble free!
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Employ some muscle! Don't be afraid to ask for help on this one. Rock and stone isn't an easy medium to work with. It is heavy and inflexible. Not for the faint-hearted I'm afraid. Wear protective gloves and steel toe-capped working boots.
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Of course, if you are planning a small feature using small rocks, you may be able to take on the whole project yourself. But always wear protective gloves. Read our gardening gloves page for help in choosing your protective gloves.
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Place each rock individually, and find the most solid position by moving it around, turning it over and generally jiggling it with other rocks.
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Fill all gaps with soil ( make this a fairly rich compost mixture ) and use soil to make the rocks solid. Use a few smaller stones here and there if necessary. Collect stones from around the garden if possible.
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It is VERY important each rock is solid before placing the next one.
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Take your time. When you've had enough for the day, stop! Look at what you've achieved so far. The first day this may be simply choosing your site, collecting your materials and tools and placing the first stone.
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When you've built about half your rocks, allow them to settle for a couple of days. Then carry on, until you're happy with the overall size, shape and look. Don't expect to have 100% perfection here. Rocks aren't produced in designer art school - oh well I guess some of them may be :-) - but you can easily disguise the blips later with your plants.
Prettying up your rockery:
So on to the plants you will grow in your rock garden.
Try and grow a mixture of different types of plants - evergreens, spring bulbs, summer flowers and maybe even a few herbs. Of course, individual plants are an individual taste and you will have to decide on your layout and what types of plants to buy.
Hyssopus officinalis 'Tricolour Mixed'
At the time of writing these were available for just £1 for 150 seeds!
A beautifully aromatic herb with a pungent tang
and will attract bees and butterflies
Consider these following points when choosing plants for your rockeries.
*Generally you want low growing flowers and plants. Taller flowers should be placed around the edge and towards the back of your rock garden - or where they will not overshadow your smaller plants in the rocks.
*Creepers can be used to hide a not so pretty side of a rock. Many of these types of plants flower for long periods and tend to look after themselves quite well.
*Spring and summer bulbs make lovely additions to rock gardens. A few anemones scattered about liven up the look of your garden - again most bulbs tend to look after themselves.
*Find herbs that will grow in little soil, or with deep roots. Many herbs will be happy to sprawl over a nice dry rock in the sun. Oregano and thyme seem to be happy in this environment.
*Annual flowers can be added in the left over spots. Marigolds look great against rock. And you can use the petals in salads throughout the summer!
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All your plants will need to be watered when the weather is dry. Perhaps a little more than other parts of your garden. Rock surfaces tend to dry out very quickly in the hot sun and plants will suffer as a result. Keep an eye on your plants.
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Keep your rock garden weed-free. A simple stroll around with a small trowel should be all you need to do to keep it looking healthy and attractive all year round.
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Don't let any part of the rock garden get waterlogged. Moss and fungus will move in immediately and your bulbs and flowers will suffer. Only water plants like their feet in water, so if you have placed your rock garden in a damp spot on purpose - grow reeds and water plants.
In fact, why not go all out and create a small waterfall over the rocks and a small pond at the bottom - The frogs will love it!
