The Rock Garden

Do you have a small outdoor space that you want to fill with something different and interesting? Do you have a natural rock ledge or outcropping on your property? Do you want to learn about unusual plants and join a worldwide group of enthusiasts? If your answer is yes to any of the above, then rock gardening may be what you are looking for.
The term rock garden is synonamous with alpine garden. Many of the
plants used are those found at high elevations and mountain tops -
plants that are used to growing in rocky places with a small pocket of
well drained soil. For this reason, they are mostly compact or dwarf
in size. The main ingredients for rock garden, in fact, are well
drained soil that is not too rich, a limited area of root growth, and
sun. If alpine plants are given soil that is TOO good, they will
become leggy and overgrown and loose their charm. Building a rock
garden is almost like building a scaled-down model of a larger
mountainside garden.
Some of the more common rock garden plants are hens and chickens (Sempervivium
sp.), dwarf conifers, creeping thymes, phloxes, baby's breath and
speedwells, pinks, compact campanulas (eg C. poscharskyana &
rotundifolia), gentians and cranesbills, soapworts, saxifrages,
and sedums. Many of these are easy to find in your local nursery. As
you get more interested in rock gardening you will likely be drawn to
acquiring some harder-to-find and rare alpine plants. These can be
quite spectacular at times, may require special attention, and will
always be a subject of interest if you join a rock garden club or
blog. Many lists are available online.
When building a rock garden you will want to be sure to provide sun
and well-drained soil. Alpine plants do NOT like to have wet feet and
mostly do not tolerate shade (think about where they grow natrually).
An even mix of sharp sand, loam, and rotted leaves (leaf mold) is a
good basic planting medium. Compost or peat can be substituted if leaf
mold is not available. This will give the soil some water and nutrient
retention while allowing free drainage. A wheelbarrow is a good place
to make your mix with a shovel. Larger rocks should be placed to form
pockets and crevices which are filled with the soil mix. Containers
that drain (even an old shoe) can be used as planting pockets also.
Ferncreek Design & Build * Olivebridge, NY
12461
(845) 657 - 1905 * info@ferncreekDB.com
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Serving most points within Ulster County including Samsonville,
Palentown, Krumville, Tabasco, Kerhonkson, Lyonsville, Stone Ridge,
High Falls, Alligerville, Accord, Cherrytown, Naopnach, Ellenville,
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