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