Creating Your Own Rock Garden

~ by Gardnbee ~

First thing to take into consideration in contemplating whether to build or not to build a Rock Garden would be where the "rocks" would come from. If you have to go buy them then you may want to reconsider this project in it's entirety as this would end up being way too expensive.

However if you have an abundance of rocks or stones on your property or freely available then this would be a good way to do something with them, something that would add its own beauty, in a creative manner, for all to enjoy. These can be large to medium and even small in size dependant upon what it is you want to achieve and how you want your own special Rock Garden to appear when finished.

Next consideration would involve location. Can you fit this kind of garden into your home landscape without the effect being unnatural? Do you have a slope or bank that could be utilized or is there a level area where low, natural rock outcrops could be simulated such as along a fence or building?

The type of Earth used would be approximately neutral throughout where one could simply acidify or alkalize special areas for particular plants that won't grow well otherwise. You may also find that mixing in some fine bone meal or superphosphate and leafmold when preparing the Earth used may be helpful in the beginning. Keep in mind that the majority of Rock Garden Plants should not be heavily fed since this will lead to soft growth which invites disease and leaves the plants subject to winter-killing.

Exposure to the elements is important as well. For example any exposure but North would be good for easy-to-grow, sun-loving plants like many sedums, pinks (dianthus) and rock-cresses while if including more finicky, choicer plants along a wall, fence or building then it would be necessary to choose an East exposure overall. Mulching with something like Peat moss will help keep plants from becoming too dried out in warmer weather.

Generally speaking spring is the season for planting any of the sedums, pinks (dianthus), dwarf phlox, primroses, painted daisies, bellflowers etc. Below is a suggested list of 'foolproof' Rock-Garden Plants by Color and Season you may find useful when starting out.

  1 ~ Alyssum (Aurinia) saxatile 'Citrinum' (lemon-yellow; May)   2 ~ Arabis albida - Common Name: Rock Cress (doubled-flowered, white; April to May)

  3 ~ Arabis procurrens - Common Name: Arabis Old Gold; Rock Cress (white; April to May)

  4 ~ Campanula carpatica - Common Name: Carpathian Bell Flower (blue; July)

  5 ~ Ceratostigma plumbaginoides - Common Name: Plumbago (blue; September to October)

  6 ~ Dianthus plumarius - Common Name Inlcudes: Carnation (white and varicolored; June)

  7 ~ Phlox subulata varieties (white, rose, dark rose, pink; May)

  8 ~ Sedum sieboldii (rose; September to October)

  9 ~ Sedum album (white; June)

10 ~ Sedum ellacombianum (yellow; July)

11 ~ Thymus serpyllum 'Coccineus' - Common Names: red creeping Thyme, wild Thyme or Mother-of-Thyme (deep rose; July)

12 ~ Veronica spicata - Common Name: Dwarf Spike Speedwell (purple; June to July)

Information Source:

10,000 Garden Questions Answered By 20 Experts Volume 1
(American Garden Guild and Doubleday Third Edition 1974)

         

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