Rock Gardens are great for creating interest in many parts of the garden. However, your rockery is best suited near to the house or patio - unless you are an avid 'visitor' to your own garden. The reason being, that the plants which make your rock garden a success, are usually small, dainty little alpines, and do not normally create the 'wash' of colour that looks good from a distance!
Together with this, Rockeries need to be kept under observation, for weeds can soon take hold, and if they are allowed to become established in your rockery, are very difficult to remove without damage to your choice plants.
The plants that are normally planted - and grow well - in rockeries, are those which are happy in dry areas.
Alpines or Alpine plants is the name often given to this group of plants. The plants used are not always true Alpines, and any slow or low growing plant will normally be ok - providing that it is suitable for dry conditions.
The site
A sunny, well-drained spot is best. However, if the area is not well-drained, then the building of a raised or sloping rockery will solve the problem. Before you start anything, make sure that the area is free of weeds. If it is not, then apply Roundup or some other weedkiller containing glyphosate to the area and allow three weeks for all of the weeds to be killed off before you start. Do not use any other type of weedkiller unless you know exactly what you are using!!!!
If the area is flat, then you can raise the rockery bed - either by using railway sleepers, or old bricks (new ones if they are going to be hidden!) and outline the shape that you want. It would be good if you can could see the finished project from the patio or other used viewpoint.
This is how 'Nature' builds a rockery!
How choose plants for your rockery follows soon
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