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