Nice ideas, tips and tricks

Where do rock garden plants thrive best?

High mountain plants have to adapt to extremely adverse living conditions. Most of the plants have dwarfed themselves so that they can protect themselves from the harsh winds at high altitudes or, like the silver arum (Dryas octopetala), carpets lying flat on the ground or rock developed. Other species such as the Swiss man's shield (Androsace helvetica) nestle in narrow crevices in the rock, where they form dense cushions in a confined space.

Which place in the garden is suitable for creating a rock garden?

Most rock garden plants feel very comfortable in a sunny south-east, south or south-west position, provided that there is shade over midday (e. B. by cleverly positioning large stones or trees). On the other hand, locations under larger trees or other woody plants are unsuitable, as the necessary sunlight is lacking here and the plants, which are very sensitive to moisture and wetness, cannot dry off quickly enough after a downpour. But be careful: there are some rock garden plants that are mainly

feel good in the shade. Many ferns fall into this category.

There are so many ways to create a rock garden. In order to create the necessary gradient, embankments (e.g. B. from the excavation of a garden pond or artificial stream) and designed accordingly or also erected dry stone walls will. A small trough garden, on the other hand, can even be set up where there is actually no space for a garden: for example on the balcony or the terrace.

Ideas for different rock gardens

A natural rock garden is modeled on the high mountain landscape and looks as if you had set a piece of the mountains in your own garden. A combination of these is also very pretty to look at Stream or pond with rock garden. The opposite of this natural one is the architectural rock garden, whereby the builder moves away from the natural model of a rocky landscape. Instead, in terms of design, the rock garden is more likely to be in the form of a sculpture or similar. ä. shaped. This effect is achieved by using exposed aggregate concrete panels or Fragments of it, roof tiles, basalt columns, etc. Also very interesting to look at is the so-called sunken garden, where the planting takes place between one or more dry stone walls.

Which types of stone are suitable for the rock garden?

In the rock garden, limestone such as Jurassic limestone, shell limestone, tuberous stones or tufa as well as typical silicate stones such as granite, slate or lava rock are used. However, you cannot plant the various types of rock as you wish, because the majority of rock plants specialize in one of the two rock groups. Plants that flee from lime, such as the prickly nut or the Adonis rose, planted in limestone, would inevitably perish.

How to build your own rock garden

Before you can start layering the stones and planting, you must first prepare the intended planting site. This includes existing ones Weeds - Above all, root weeds such as thistles, bindweed, couch grass and groundgrass - not only to pluck, but also to dig up. These weeds develop long roots from which they can grow back again and again and quickly take over. When the planting site is finally prepared, dig it up Underground and install a drainage system. Laying drainage pipes is especially important in heavy clay soils to prevent waterlogging - Rock garden plants are used to dry ground and would quickly become wet if they were waterlogged enter.

Here you will find instructions on how to build the rock garden yourself:

• The bottom layer is a gravel or crushed stone layer
• in it is the drainage pipe (e.g. B. a drain-flex pipe with a diameter of 65 to 80 mm)
• on top is a layer of topsoil
• and finally as the last layer Rock garden soil
• Finally, use this to arrange the stones
• Stepping stones facilitate the subsequent maintenance work

When installing the stones, make sure that they are securely in place, i. H. no stone should wobble. If necessary, put some earth or split under the stone at the wobbly edges.

Choosing the right rock garden soil

Rock garden soil should above all have good drainage properties. Compost soil with its high nutrient content is unsuitable, as the rock garden plants are used to barren soils and therefore only need small amounts of nutrients.

Suitable plants for the rock garden

The rock garden plants suitable for our Central European climate come from the high mountain regions of the northern and southern hemispheres, with the exception of Australia and Antarctica. The climates are astonishingly similar: they are characterized by strong winds and long winters and short summers.

Cushion plants

In order to protect themselves from strong winds and excessive cold, cushion plants do not allow their shoots to grow in length, so that their leaves lie directly on top of each other. Suitable types are, for example:

• Stalkless catchfly (Silene acaulis)
• Pair-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia)
• Stone herb (Alyssum)
• Man's shield (Androsace)
• Carnation (armeria)
• Edelraute (Artemisia)
• Andean cushion (Azorella trifurcata)

Clump plants

Most perennials and almost all grasses have a clumpy habit, i. H. the new shoots that form year after year join the older shoots in a circle or growing in one direction. They form dense bushes. Species suitable for the rock garden are, for example Grasses how

• Fuchsia sedge (Carex buchananii)
• Mountain sedge (Carex montana)
• Blue fescue (Festuca cinerea)
• Bearskin Grass (Festuca gauteri)

Debris settlers

For the planting of dry stone walls and the gaps between the stone slabs of paths and stairs, debris colonists are suitable, who pull through the rock debris with their long shoots. Typical representatives of this group are:

• Dalmatian Cranesbill (Geranium dalmaticum)
• Bluebells (campanula, various species)
• Silverwort (Dryas octopetala)