| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Rock Gardens - A Different Kind of Garden
Planting a Rock Garden is a great alternative to the normal flower and vegetable garden. Where Should This Garden Go: Typically an ideal spot for a rock garden is on a slope or naturally terraced area with rock formations already in place. However nature has not blessed every home with this perfect set up which means you will need to create an area from scratch using topsoil and rocks. This can be done most anywhere you choose against a wall or fence, along the house or back of a garage - this is where I had one of my rock gardens - having one within an existing garden would also look quite nice. How Big Should It Be: This decision of course is going to be entirely up to you taking into consideration how much time you have and how much space you have to work with. You may have seen pictures in magazines of very elaborate looking rock gardens with waterfalls or streams running through them and paths made up of large flat rock for walking. However, small, simply designed gardens look just as good and in the long run for many of use will work out better. This is especially true if you are making one from scratch, you need to consider the amount of time needed to build it and the cost factor as you'll be needing topsoil, rocks and plants. Remember the old saying we all head growing up "Your eyes are bigger than your stomach" well it applies here as well, start small and build up over time. I've had rock gardens at two different homes both had to be started from scratch and both started out small. The first started small mainly because I'd never done one before, in fact it didn't start out to be a rock garden at all. It started as a flower garden right behind the garage, but the discovery of some Hens & Chicks at a local nursery changed everything. Which now leads to the next section, plants. What Plants To Use This type of garden is a little different from what you may normally be accustomed to - large plants with brightly colored blooms. Here you want plants that are relatively small, there are many low growing perennials available. And don't get to caught up in whether the plants has flowers or not, what your looking for is something to enhance and complement the rock clusters you've put together. Also don't limit your choices to just plants, small dwarf evergreen shrubs can also be used and will add another texture to the garden. In fact is space permits add a few larger shrubs to the back of the garden, which works as a backdrop to really put the rock garden in the spot light. Examples of Plants & Shrubs: Perennials Creeping Myrtle - green leaves with violet blue spring flowers Shrubs Juniper Maintaining A Rock Garden: Routine care like with any garden is needed. Cutting back leggy plants, dead heading any flowering plants, removal of any dead stems and dividing any plants that have become to big. Also like with all gardens water when necessary and feed occasionally. Putting down a thick layer of mulch will help during the hot summer to keep moisture where it belongs around the plants roots; this is also beneficial if you live in an area where winters are harsh. To Add Decorative Accents or Not - Here's a Good Question: Many articles and experienced gardeners will more than likely tell you that the addition of decorative accents is not necessary as the simple lines of plants and rocks is the decorative element. I on the other hand disagree, to me adding a little something like a small figurine, a mini birdbath or a tiny wind chime hanging from a miniature Shepard's hook only add to the beauty of the garden. However as with indoor decorating, a garden whether it is rock, flower or vegetable should express and represent the creative side to each individual gardener, so if you like the way something looks go ahead and use it. Give Rock Gardening a try. Happy Gardening This is a share ware article. Give this article away for free on your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire article is left intact including this notice. Copyright 2005 bonnie carrier. Bonnie P. Carrier is the creator of Savvy Home Decorating & Savvy Outdoor Decorating. She is the mother to two grown daughters and a very spoiled 4yr old Blue Merle Sheltie named Toby. Stop by for information and ideas for both inside and outside your home. http://www.savvy-home-decorating.com
MORE RESOURCES:
landscaping gardening - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Starting a Shade Garden... The shade garden can be exploding with color and texture. No matter how much shade is in your landscape, the right flowers, plants, bushes and bulbs will grow in this area when given a chance. Learn All About Feng Shui Money Trees A feng shui money tree is an indoor plant used in order to attract prosperity and wealth into any space. The feng shui money tree's botanical name is Pachira, and its care requires the average sun light and watering that any other indoor plant would need. Rose Meanings Explained Roses are the traditional gift given on Valentines Day, but they're well-received any time of year. The color and type of rose does carry a meaning, though. Hot-Weather Fish Feeding Facts Summertime provides the best time of the year to water garden - and also to be on the alert for high-temperature problems.To remain healthy and continue growing, fish need to get all the nutrients available from their food, so feed them food they can easily assimilate in their systems. Choosing the Right Roses for your Garden There are literally hundreds of types of roses that you can grow in your garden. With such a selection to choose from, it can be extremely difficult to choose the rose that's right for you. The Perfect Accent -- Miniature Roses Indoors or out, you'll find miniature roses very easy to grow. These little guys sometimes get overlooked because they give off little fragrance, yet they can be the perfect visual accent to any home or garden. How to Install a Liner Pond Liner ponds are ideal for the experienced water gardener because they allow for very forgiving installations, which consequently promotes greater creativity. However, for the very same reasons, liner ponds also take require some pre-planning. Why You Should Always Have Garden Furniture You've put a lot of work into your garden, from planning to digging to weeding to all the little tasks that keep it looking beautiful. Sharing your garden with others is the next step, and doing that requires more than pretty rows of plants. Themes of Shade A Shade Garden can be created in any of several different types of shade. It can be in the mottled shade that comes from a broad leaf tree to the deep dark woods mentioned in Robert Frost's "Stopping by A Woods on A Snowy Evening". How to Grow Bananas If your grocer says, "Yes, we have no bananas. We have no bananas today," it isn't surprising since the banana is the world's second favorite fruit, surpassed in popularity only by the apple. Why Should You Create A Butterfly Garden? Have you noticed you do not see as many butterflies as you once did? It is sad that we do not see as many butterflies as we might like. You can change that by planting a butterfly garden. Caring For Tropical And Exotic Flowers Tropical flowers make an exciting change from the more traditional floral gifts such as roses and gerberas, assuming that they're available in your area. Their stark and colorful beauty makes them an impressive gift for special occasions like Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, birthdays and anniversaries. Garlic: The Stinking Rose Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used for centuries for both cooking and medicinal purposes. Known as the 'stinking rose' and Russian penicillin, its medicinal purposes have been documented for centuries and have always been a popular remedy for colds, coughs, and sore throats. The Importance of Garden Decor The Quest for SignificancePeople are looking for ways to add significance, peace of mind, a quality experience, and an escape from the "rat-race" in their lives. Stated differently, people want to add depth and meaning to their lives. It's Gardening Season! It's gardening season again! Are you ready? Whether you are a seasoned gardener, or are looking to start gardening, you will likely need supplies and plants. If you shop smart, and use the tips below, you can get that garden running with very little money. y, Fun Garden Plants I have a love for funky, fun and unique garden plants. Here's one to try. Tidy Your Garden Up Cheaply Recently I got involved with gardening. Preior to that, all I use to do was mow the lawn when it overgrew. 10 Tips for Successful Rose Planting Planting roses isn't actually complicated, as long as you have some good advice and tips to start with.. Gardening for Kids Children are continually bombarded with advertising for fast food and unhealthy treats. One of the most important lessons you can teach them is how to tend and grow their own food from the garden. Funniest Pond Stories-Part 1, May 2004 Get ready for some gut-wrenching, laugh out loud hilarious pond stories from all over the world..
|
