When it comes to building a rock garden, some folks are blissfully overconfident, while most of us are altogether too timid.
In truth, rock gardening is one of the most aesthetic approaches to landscape design and plant appreciation; it demands the utmost in fine taste from all who practice it. But if you consider yourself “just an everyday type,” do not be dismayed.
There are more of the artists in all of us than we often realize, and there is another requirement in rock gardening to which you should be specially adapted—that is good practical common sense.
Whatever your personality, a brief look at the pitfalls in rock gardening will reap its reward—if you are the hasty type, it will prevent further loss; if you are the overcautious sort, it will inspire you to greater achievements.
Novelty of Rock Gardening
To think of a rock garden as just a loose heap of rocks and plants is to malign culture and landscape design. Yet, in the early 1930s, Americans thrust adventurously into the then-popular novelty of rock gardening without giving much thought as to just what they were about.
The results were a few masterpieces and a multitude of monstrosities.
Like children with a new toy, many misguided enthusiasts set flat stones on end-like posts, or brightly colored boulders were put high on the surface, leading one wit to ridicule them as the “dog’s graveyard” and “Humpty dumpty.”
The fact of the matter is that many of these erstwhile enthusiasts did not want a true rock garden at all. Instead, they demanded a kind of instant showcase for peculiar rocks and gaudy freak plants.
Rock Garden Planning
Don’t start a rock garden if you want a quick and easy flower or mineral show. In general, a rock garden is not difficult.
It calls for a minimum of effort and expense once it is completed. But it does take a considerable amount of planning and patience to establish in the first place.
Use masses of bedding annuals where you want continuous color, but refrain from calling them rockery.
Don’t place a rock garden where you want a successive riot of color from spring until fall. One that is well planned is a big show in May and June but for the rest of the season, its beauty is more subdued and quiet, calling for a closer inspection to appreciate the full enchantment of its soft, delicate blooms and foliage forms.
Don’t Emphasize Freakish Constructions or Gaudy Distractions
The first rock gardens of Europe in the mid-nineteenth century were large heaps of strange and curious rock specimens, with little regard for plant material or harmony with nature. However, we have long since evolved from that stage.
Today a few rock curiosities may be worked successfully into a natural plan, but to fill a rock garden with them is to give it a carnival effect.
Artificially painted boulders do not deserve mention, and machine-shaped and polished stones should be avoided unless part of a formal gate, wall, or terrace.
If possible, the stone used should be mostly of one class or closely related types, which are of particular rugged beauty and native to your general area.
Geometric Patterns
Designs that are arranged in perfect geometric patterns must be shunned, unless in a carefully executed formal plan.
Whenever natural rock garden construction is undertaken, it is best to remember the picturesque ledges you have seen, especially ones with ample crevices and values for vegetation. Shrink it down in your imagination, adopting the miniature to your home site.
From this perspective, you will have no problem with geometric rigidity because nature is not formed in that manner. But, on the other hand, this form of thinking can be carried too far—nature is often exceedingly raw and can well stand limited refinements.
Common State Of A Rock Garden
One of the most common states of a rock garden is unconditional surrender to one plant variety. This was not the original intention. One aggressive variety was planted throughout, along with different, less vigorous kinds.
Soon the invader had taken over and mercilessly strangled all save its own (or one or two others equally powerful!) So don’t plant invaders indiscriminately throughout the garden.
Examples of the worst invaders are:
- Creeping bugle (Ajuga reptans)
- Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
- Maiden pinks (Dianthus deltoides)
- Gold moss (Sedum acre)
- Money-wort (Lysimachia nummularia )
- Milkwort (Euphorbia cypresses)
Some authorities call for the complete exclusion of these varieties, but I believe they are very useful where they can be positively isolated.
Indeed they are especially encouraging to the beginner, being so easy and productive. Also, some of the worst invaders are among the most colorful of plants and give the rock garden a good distance effect.
Tiny rock plant gems should be thoroughly insulated against any crowding and molestation whatsoever, as they have a difficult enough struggle under the best conditions.
Rock Gardens Doomed By Chosen Site
Some rock gardens are doomed from the start by their chosen site—perhaps a barren sun-baked bank where one is fortunate to grow grass or a sticky clay heap under dense shade.
Don’t be unmindful that exposure conditions and soil are essential to the life of a wide range of rock plants.
For most varieties of alpines, a northern exposure is best, with eastern or western views also acceptable. If a southern exposure is necessary, it should be slightly shaded.
Diversity of Varieties
For a diversity of varieties, one requires varying degrees of sun and shade in the garden. This is simplified by having a backdrop of shrubs and trees, which is desirable from a landscaping viewpoint also.
The soil should be reasonably well-drained, but since most rock gardens are built on a slope, this is generally not a problem, drainage being automatic.
A spongy soil made up of about one part each of loam, sand, and wood humus (or peat moss) is desirable.
The key to success with many rock plants is to keep the roots in a porous, slightly moist medium while the crown at ground level is kept dry.
More alpines are lost by either crown rot (from excessive moisture at that point) or summer drouth (causing dried-out roots) than by any other causes.
Things To Consider
Although our country’s more northern and mountainous parts are best adapted to a vast range of rock plants, each section of America has its successful list.
Even the deep South has favorable conditions for a few varieties and can grow some that are not hardy farther north.
Don’t forget to consider hardiness, drouth resistance, and drainage requirements as they apply to your area and location when selecting your varieties.
Quite several rock plants are not hardy in New England and similar climates.
For example, Alpines, which demand abundant moisture, suffer during a Midwestern summer. In the rainy Northwest, providing adequate drainage for certain varieties is often difficult.
Locating And Placing Small Round Stones
Small round stones are usually the easiest to locate and put into place, forming the bulk of many gardens.
These may be dubbed “the ballparks;” don’t allow your garden to become such. If you find it difficult to obtain or move large stones of the proper sort, find the most chunky, rugged-looking small ones you can and scale your garden to fit them.
If you have a good source and transportation for large stones, get the bulkiest ones (which are otherwise appropriate) and anchor them deep in the soil or the garden bed.
In all cases, stones should be placed to catch rain or other water and guide it back into the bank and plant roots. Of course, the ideal is when you have a natural rock or ledge formation already on your property.
Starting From Seeds
True rock plants are mostly perennials, so, except for a few popular, easy varieties, they are not quick and automatic from seed.
Don’t plan on starting rock plants from seed unless you are either experienced at growing more difficult perennials from seed or are anxious to learn.
However, this need not hinder you as a complete range of sturdy plants is readily available from reliable nurseries which specialize in this field.
Accumulate A Wide Assortment of Plant Varieties
It is fascinating and desirable to accumulate a wide assortment of plant varieties, but there is a tendency to let the collecting instinct get the better of the artistic instinct in the garden.
Don’t restrict yourself to one plant each of a variety in all cases unless you wish for a private museum.
Some varieties of which you have only one of a kind may be successfully harmonized so long as a substantial part of the garden is made up of groups in which you have three or six of a kind for a smooth, organized effect.
If you have wide varieties in the rock garden, mark them plainly with short, inconspicuous labels for the purpose.
Don’t rely on your memory to locate and identify. This may seem excessive, but it can be vital during cultivating and weeding. Many miniature plants go dormant and are quickly overshadowed by a pompous weed.
Likely as not, they will be unintentionally pulled up and lost unless their nameplate is strategically placed for defense.
Don’ts may seem a rather dismal beginning or end for any topic, but I think you will agree they often lead to positive results in rock gardening.
44659 by Donald G. Allen