Rock Gardens ... A Different Kind of Garden

Planting a Rock Garden is a great alternative to theAlso 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 slopeIn fact is space permits add a few larger shrubs to
or naturally terraced area with rock formationsthe 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 withExamples of Plants & Shrubs:
this perfect set up which means you will need toPerennials:
create an area from scratch using topsoil and rocks.- Creeping Myrtle - green leaves with violet blue
This can be done most anywhere you choosespring 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 gardenstexture
- 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 veryMaintaining A Rock Garden:
elaborate looking rock gardens with waterfalls orRoutine care like with any garden is needed. Cutting
streams running through them and paths made up ofback 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 asthat have become to big.
good and in the long run for many of use will workAlso like with all gardens water when necessary and
out better.feed occasionally.
This is especially true if you are making one fromPutting down a thick layer of mulch will help during
scratch, you need to consider the amount of timethe hot summer to keep moisture where it belongs
needed to build it and the cost factor as you'll bearound 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 upTo Add Decorative Accents or Not - Here's a Good
"Your eyes are bigger than your stomach" well itQuestion:
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 boththan likely tell you that the addition of decorative
had to be started from scratch and both started outaccents 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 doneI on the other hand disagree, to me adding a little
one before, in fact it didn't start out to be a rocksomething like a small figurine, a mini birdbath or a
garden at all. It started as a flower garden righttiny wind chime hanging from a miniature Shepard's
behind the garage, but the discovery of some Henshook 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 Useexpress and represent the creative side to each
This type of garden is a little different from whatindividual gardener, so if you like the way something
you may normally be accustomed to - large plantslooks go ahead and use it.
with brightly colored blooms.Give Rock Gardening a try. Happy Gardening
Here you want plants that are relatively small, thereThis 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 haspackage as long as the entire article is left intact
flowers or not, what your looking for is something toincluding this notice. Copyright © 2005 bonnie
enhance and complement the rock clusters you'vecarrier.
put together.