TOP 4 important tips for creating a rock garden

Nowadays, the term rock garden has a much broader meaning than in history. Previously, the rocky part of the garden was considered a rock garden, where the so-called alpine plants grew. These plants did not exceed a height of more than 20-25 cm. A certain shape of the rock may also include areas with rockeries. Also dry walls contain alpine plants. This floral design is called a rock garden.

Rock garden: Don't forget about design

Do not forget that a real stone is always characterized by the presence of other stones around it. These can be of different types, for example, limestone, sandstone or volcanic aggregate. Carpets, cushions and bunches of various suitable plants are inherent in the general charms of the rocky mountains, of which the most typical are calendula, gentian, tartar and liverwort.
Anyone fortunate enough to have a large garden can create a complete rock garden with a slope, dry walls, and possibly a pond. In addition to the classic alpine slide, you can buy flowers for your rock garden from professional growers, trade shows, spring markets or garden centers. However, when creating a rock garden, it is also necessary to take into account the special requirements for the soil of some alpine plants. Therefore, it is better to study some materials on this topic in advance.

Pay attention to the soil

Soil with a lot of sand is too permeable. The more clay the soil contains, the heavier it becomes. Clay soil is best suited for alpine plants. For perennials that cannot tolerate too long a drought, you can improve the soil by adding compost.

Rainwater drainage

So that the alpine plants do not deteriorate, the drainage of rainwater from the roots must be well provided in the rock. This is best achieved by placing a layer of gravel or drainage on the base of the planting. Extracting fluids from rocks is vital, especially for xerophilous plants such as euphorbia and house onions. Therefore, it is advisable to plant these plants on the upper southern side of the cliff.

Rock garden: care tips

The indisputable advantage of any rock garden is that it does not need special care, except for rare weeding. Another plus in care will be that it does not need to be regularly watered and fertilized. Only if your rock garden is quite sandy, you need to add a dose of universal fertilizer in the fall. Keep in mind that you need to regularly check the stones for stability if your rock garden is in a sunny location.

Slope

The rocks on the slope look very natural, as well as rock gardens with elevation differences in some parts. If you are fortunate enough to own a hillside garden, or at least part of it has a natural slope, use this place to build a rock garden. The slope must be accessible enough, tough and stable for weeding.