ROCK GARDENSRock Gardens Overview - 6The paths through and near
the rock garden should not be too formal,
and their edges should blend softly with
the surrounding vegetation. This may be done
by making the path of flat rocks or broken
paving-stones set in good soil, with small
plants at the edges placed actually between
the stones, and encouraged to spread over
all those parts of the path not habitually
walked upon. Even upon the edges of gravel
walks this softening process may very well
he carried out, if suitable plants are chosen.
The alpine toadflax will do well in such
a position, on gravel, as will most of the
dwarf sedums or stonecrops, campanulas and
the like. The great thing to aim at in the
rock garden is the complete covering of the
space with plant life, the only bare spots
being a few actual rock projections. Crazy
Paving. Crazy paving, which is one of the
most satisfactory types of path for the rock
garden, must be well and evenly laid, otherwise
it is very unpleasant to walk on, and will
always be giving trouble because of the loosening
and rising of the stones. The course of the
path must be first marked out with stakes
and the surface soil removed to the depth
of from nine to twelve inches, if there is
no lack of materials to fill it; the wider
the path, the deeper the excavation necessary.
The nature of the soil also affects the depth
of excavation; in heavy clay at least twelve
inches should be removed, in light soil nine
inches will suffice. There is a point that
must be stressed here, and that is the importance
of eradicating all perennial weeds, especially
those with long, creeping roots, from the
soil at the bottom and sides of the path.
If this is not done, all kinds of weeds will
soon make their appearance in the new path,
and will be very difficult to get rid of.
Weed-killer will kill these perennial weeds,
but it takes three or four years to effect
a thorough clearance. From one-third to one-half
the depth excavated for the path must be
filled up with rough stones, brickbats, clinkers
from the brickfields, slag and scori from
the ironworks, or any coarse, hard rubbish
that can be gathered together; the greater
part of the remainder must then be filled
up with coarse gravel, shingle, etc., which
may be mixed with a little earth to give
consistency to the whole. The correct level
for the crown of the path can be marked by
wooden peg sdriven in to the right depth.
Allow the path to set for a few days before
using it. next rock gardens overview
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