Creating A Rock Garden.

Creating a rock garden.
The main points for creating a good looking rock garden.
Firstly use the large rocks you can safely hand.The larger the rocks the better the effect.
Rocks should be placed on the same axis and so the levels of strata in the rocks all run in the same direction so they look natural.
Ideally you are looking to make it look as if the rock in your rock garden has been exposed from a much larger volume or amount of rock under the surface in your garden.
To start dig out a small basin shape about 600 mm deep.Place the soil as a mound on one side and place the rocks into this mound making sure any strata in the rooks faces in the same direction and lines so that it looks natural.
Then lift the rocks and cover the area in weed sheeting and re position the rocks on top of the weed sheeting,This will help prevent weeds and save loads of time later.
Next use a soil based compost such as John Inness too push into the gaps between the rocks/stones to create planting pockets.Also place some soil based compost in the base of the basin you have dug out.

Then when you are happy with the shapes and placement of the rocks cover the area with 20mm gravel or horticultural grit.
Finally if you have any large rock chips or stone size pieces of rock you can spread these out in an area at the base of the rocks to form a scree bed.
Listed below are a number of plants you can use for different areas within your rack garden.
Planting pockets in the rocks – gentian.
Ground cover plants. – Saxifraga, Aubretia.
Screen area plants. Armeria maritima.
Semi bog garden plants at the bare of rock structures – Drumstick Primula
Larger structural plants for. rock gardens – Thuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’ white cedar.