ROCK GARDENS

Rock Gardens Overview - 10

They should be planted very firmly with the soil rammed well down around the roots, which should be carefully spread out; never should they be cramped. The plants must be thoroughly watered after planting, particularly in the spring. Specimens from pots may, of course, be planted at any time, provided a sufficient "ball" of soil from the pot is allowed to remain round the roots, and the weather is neither too dry nor too wet. Do not plant out in very dry weather, as it will be extremely difficult to provide the roots with sufficient moisture; likewise, planting when very wet will make the soil become caked so hard that the fibrous roots will have difficulty in penetrating it and finding nourishment. After planting, especially in the case of the choicer alpines, small stone chippings should be spread over the surface of the soil around the plants. This will help to prevent excessive evaporation. When planting in a crevice it is essential that there shall be no air pocket at the bottom; this would drain all moisture from the roots and parch them. To avoid this, first ram plenty of good gritty soil deeply into the crevice and make sure that the bottom is well filled, then scrape out some of the mould at the top and set the plant in firmly, pressing the soil well down round the roots, and fix it in tightly by means of a smaller wedge of stone. Care should be taken that shade-lovers, like Aquilegias and Anemones, are given congenial situations; plants which prosper in the sun, as Alyssums, Arabis, Zauschnerias, etc., should be given the sunniest spots in the rock garden. Such plants as Saxifrages and Aubrietas should be planted in the crevices among the rocks; on the flat, lower-lying situations the larger Primulas and Campanulas will thrive; while an occasional dwarf evergreen shrub or conifer should certainly be planted.

next rock gardens overview page...

back to rock gardens home page...