A rock garden is an absolute eye-catcher in the garden if it is laid out correctly. Such a system is particularly good on a slight slope. If you walk through a residential area with gardens with your eyes wide open, you will find numerous rock gardens. Even a layman quickly recognizes the different quality. Putting two or three stones between the plants does not make a rock garden. There’s a little more to it than that. The area should be laid out appropriately and the selection of plants and accessories is a completely separate area. Since rock gardens are so popular, there are now nurseries specializing in these plants. If you don’t have any of them in the immediate vicinity, you can have information material and then plants sent to you by post. Usually this works very well.
Table of Contents
location and materials
The location of a rock garden is important for the success of the plant. Only if it is well chosen will the plants get the sun, the soil and the other necessary ingredients to thrive. In principle, you can also create a rock garden on level ground, but the effect is completely different if you have a slope. In principle, it is very easy to build a small slope by adding earth. You can just as easily pile up the rubble that accumulates when building a house into a hill and then cover it generously with earth. There are many possibilities, a hillside property is not necessary.
- Rock garden should be quite sunny
- Partial shade is also possible, but too much shade is unfavorable
- most plants for rock gardens love sun
- for a normal rock garden you only need a few specially selected stones
- Light stones stand out more than dark ones
- Drainage is especially important
- don’t use too many different stones
- Do not use different types and shapes
- Match the size of the rocks to that of the rock garden
- large rock garden can also tolerate larger stones
- Paths are best made of small stones (stone or gravel).
- Rock garden perennials ideal for planting
- real alpine perennials from specialist nurseries often have high demands in terms of location and care
- no beginner plants
- as a special highlight: let the stream run through the rock garden
- Round river pebbles or other round or flattened stones are suitable here
- Stairs on a slope also look good, laid out naturally
- Decorative objects such as roots or small figures bring variety and set highlights
It is important that the rock garden gives off a harmonious picture overall. This includes the slope itself, the arrangement of the stream, stairs, stones and plants. Everything has to look as natural as possible, not planned.
Create a rock garden yourself – instructions
Creating a rock garden can be complicated, especially if you want to make structural changes to the site. However, when designed properly, such a garden never looks artificial, but very natural.
- south or southwest facing slope is ideal
- for a good effect, the rock garden must not be too small
- You should give him at least 10 m²
- Rock garden plants are quite drought-resistant and do not like moisture
- pay attention to good drainage if there is no slope shape
- On slopes, the excess water usually drains away reliably, so that waterlogging cannot occur.
- Hilly terrain is also suitable, especially for larger rock gardens
- If you have to fill up: For every 30 cm increase in floor level, a width of 1 to 1.5 m must be available!
- Mix heavy soils with sand
- 20 to 30 cm high layer of soil is required
- Earth needs some time to settle
- flood in again and again so that cracks and crevices become clogged
- distribute stones
- bury large stones up to a third
- Let the stones set for a few days, don’t put in the plants right away
- Plant plants carefully
- Pour on and water regularly for the next few weeks, preferably with a fine spray
- If the plants are well established, only water them in prolonged drought and extreme heat
- Fertilizing is usually not necessary
- Plants come from barren areas and get by with few nutrients
- if fertilizing, then with compost or horn shavings
- Regular, careful loosening of the soil and plucking weeds is sufficient care
Recommended rock garden plants
There is a large selection of special rock garden plants. In principle, it is said that it is better not to use too many different plants. It is better to choose larger groups of the same plants, this works better. Of course, the size of the rock garden is always decisive. If you only have 10 m² available, you should decide on three to four plants, plus flower bulbs for spring and one or two dwarf shrubs, so that something evergreen can help through the cloudy season. All plants should match each other in color, even if that limits the choice a bit.
Many rock garden plants love lime, but there are also species that don’t like it at all. So be careful when choosing plants! Lime is also often contained in stones, for example in dolomite, travertine and sand-lime brick. Lime-loving plants can also be used with these stones. Basalt, sandstone and granite are neutral to acidic, so all plants fit in well.
Dwarf shrubs are evergreen. They are important so that the rock garden does not look desolate in winter. When choosing, it is important to choose a species that does not grow too large. The best thing to do is get advice from your trusted nursery. are well suited
- Alpenazaleen
- Rock Daphne
- five finger bush
- hanging willow
- Small gorse
- creeping juniper
- ball pines
- nest spruce
- dwarf conifers
- Dwarf mountain pine
- Dwarf Helmlock
perennials
- Alpenaster
- Alpenmohn
- alpine nelke
- cyclamen
- Enzian
- Edelweiß
- Grasnelke
- cat paw
- Small bellflowers like dwarf bellflower
- Herbs like lavender and thyme
- Low sedum
- First
- cushion perennials
- sunroses
- types of rock crushing
- Steinkraut
Although grasses belong to the perennials, they should be mentioned separately.
- Berry grass
- blue bulrush
- blue fescue
- Rispengras
Bulbous and bulbous plants are absolutely essential for a rock garden. Not only in spring do they impress with their abundance of flowers. There are also plants that bloom in summer and autumn. Species suitable for naturalising, which spread well and fit perfectly into nature, are particularly favorable.
- Blaustern
- autumn crocus
- autumn crocus
- Crocuses
- Daffodils – low species
- Summer flowering daffodils
- grape hyacinths
- Tulips (ideal Wild Tulips)
- winterlinge
- Zwergiris
Perennials, ground cover & rarities
Low to medium-tall perennials add color and life to a rock garden. Ground covers, which include cushion perennials in the rock garden, spread abundantly over the years and eventually grow in all directions. They make the rock garden look so natural and should not be missing in anyone. Rarities often have the disadvantage that they are not easy to obtain and also make greater demands on care. However, you also have something very special in your rock garden. Under no circumstances should you help yourself in nature and dig up the rarities on an alpine holiday!!!
perennials
- Cushion perennials such as alyssum, Pyrenean sandwort, moss saxifrage, blue cushion, goose cress, hungry flowers, red cushion, sun rose, carpet phlox, cushion carnation
- see under recommended rock garden plants – perennials
groundcover
- Alpines Alpenglöckchen
- blue pillow
- ball flower
- All upholstery perennials
- prickly nuts
- Star Cushion Bellflower
- Steinsame
- Violet Rebecca
- Many Sedum species
rarities
- Alpine Ziest
- Balkan carnation
- Orchids such as Tibetan orchid, bog orchid
- Shaggy Devil’s Claw
- dwarf shad
Conclusion
A rock garden suits every house. An uneven surface is important, a slope is favorable. Upholstery perennials in particular fit well between the stones. When making your selection, make sure that something is always in bloom! The right soil is important for the good development of the plants. Some like lime, some don’t. The rock garden must not be planted too sparsely! Lush upholstery perennials, in between small bulbous plants and one or two small trees placed around a small pond, that is pure harmony. Birds and other small animals also feel at home there. Have fun designing and creating!
