ROCK GARDENS

Paved Rock Gardens 2

More paved gardens are spoiled by indiscriminate and excessive planting than by any other cause. If rock-work of any kind forms the boundary to the path or the paved garden, allow the plants covering it to encroach a little way, and in an irregular manner, over the flagstones. This informality will add a touch of nature and will help to erase the traces of the handiwork of man. As to the stones used, the majority should not be less than about ten inches rectangular in shape are best for paths, but for covering square, circular, and oval spaces the flags may be of any shape and size, provided they are not too regular. The site of the paved garden must, of course, be well drained; in fact, the foundations should be constructed in the same way as those must be well and evenly laid and the coarse founda tions must be rammed and rolled until absolutely firm, otherwise there may be subsidences and settlements, causing unevenness after the paving is laid. Over this base is placed a layer of sand some three to six inches in thickness, and on this the flags are laid in an irregular pattern and so that there are gaps of some one or two inches between the stones. These spaces should be filled with good loamy soil mixed with a quarter part well-decayed manure, preferably cow-dung, and an eighth part old mortar, and in this are inserted the plants in small groups or in isolated tufts. The most suitable site for the paved garden is in connection with the rock garden, the bog garden, or the water garden. A paved garden flanked by low hedges of lavender will be a favorite haunt of all garden-lovers.


rock gardens index...