| Planting a Rock Garden is a great alternative to the | | | | Also don't limit your choices to just plants, small |
| normal flower and vegetable garden. | | | | dwarf evergreen shrubs can also be used and will add |
| Where Should This Garden Go: | | | | another texture to the garden. |
| Typically an ideal spot for a rock garden is on a slope | | | | In fact is space permits add a few larger shrubs to |
| or naturally terraced area with rock formations | | | | the back of the garden, which works as a backdrop |
| already in place. | | | | to really put the rock garden in the spot light. |
| However nature has not blessed every home with | | | | Examples of Plants & Shrubs: |
| this perfect set up which means you will need to | | | | Perennials: |
| create an area from scratch using topsoil and rocks. | | | | - Creeping Myrtle - green leaves with violet blue |
| This can be done most anywhere you choose | | | | spring flowers |
| against a wall or fence, along the house or back of a | | | | - Hens & Chicks - many varieties of color and |
| garage - this is where I had one of my rock gardens | | | | texture |
| - having one within an existing garden would also look | | | | - Sedum - creeping in gold or red |
| quite nice. | | | | - Phlox - creeping in pink, red, blue and white |
| How Big Should It Be: | | | | Shrubs: |
| This decision of course is going to be entirely up to | | | | - Juniper |
| you taking into consideration how much time you | | | | - Dwarf Mugho Pine |
| have and how much space you have to work with. | | | | - Birds Nest Spruce |
| You may have seen pictures in magazines of very | | | | Maintaining A Rock Garden: |
| elaborate looking rock gardens with waterfalls or | | | | Routine care like with any garden is needed. Cutting |
| streams running through them and paths made up of | | | | back leggy plants, dead heading any flowering plants, |
| large flat rock for walking. | | | | removal of any dead stems and dividing any plants |
| However, small, simply designed gardens look just as | | | | that have become to big. |
| good and in the long run for many of use will work | | | | Also like with all gardens water when necessary and |
| out better. | | | | feed occasionally. |
| This is especially true if you are making one from | | | | Putting down a thick layer of mulch will help during |
| scratch, you need to consider the amount of time | | | | the hot summer to keep moisture where it belongs |
| needed to build it and the cost factor as you'll be | | | | around the plants roots; this is also beneficial if you |
| needing topsoil, rocks and plants. | | | | live in an area where winters are harsh. |
| Remember the old saying we all head growing up | | | | To Add Decorative Accents or Not - Here's a Good |
| "Your eyes are bigger than your stomach" well it | | | | Question: |
| applies here as well, start small and build up over time. | | | | Many articles and experienced gardeners will more |
| I've had rock gardens at two different homes both | | | | than likely tell you that the addition of decorative |
| had to be started from scratch and both started out | | | | accents is not necessary as the simple lines of plants |
| small. | | | | and rocks is the decorative element. |
| The first started small mainly because I'd never done | | | | I on the other hand disagree, to me adding a little |
| one before, in fact it didn't start out to be a rock | | | | something like a small figurine, a mini birdbath or a |
| garden at all. It started as a flower garden right | | | | tiny wind chime hanging from a miniature Shepard's |
| behind the garage, but the discovery of some Hens | | | | hook only add to the beauty of the garden. |
| & Chicks at a local nursery changed everything. | | | | However as with indoor decorating, a garden |
| Which now leads to the next section, plants. | | | | whether it is rock, flower or vegetable should |
| What Plants To Use | | | | express and represent the creative side to each |
| This type of garden is a little different from what | | | | individual gardener, so if you like the way something |
| you may normally be accustomed to - large plants | | | | looks go ahead and use it. |
| with brightly colored blooms. | | | | Give Rock Gardening a try. Happy Gardening |
| Here you want plants that are relatively small, there | | | | This is a share ware article. Give this article away for |
| are many low growing perennials available. | | | | free on your site, or include it as part of any paid |
| And don't get to caught up in whether the plants has | | | | package as long as the entire article is left intact |
| flowers or not, what your looking for is something to | | | | including this notice. Copyright © 2005 bonnie |
| enhance and complement the rock clusters you've | | | | carrier. |
| put together. | | | | |