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Article Series: Gardening
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Gardening Tips & Advice
Designing
and Building a Rock Garden
DESIGNING THE ROCK GARDEN
If you have a garden with a little slope, then this is great
for you. The rock garden can be cut from the already existing
ground following the natural contours of the soil. If your
garden is flat, then it will be a necessity for you to think
about building a rock garden based on an outcrop principle
where the rocks form layers or terraces. These layers will
help accommodate the plants. Whichever your garden is, great
care should be taken in the designing stage.
Choose your rock carefully. The cost of the
material is very expensive and you will not get much for
your money. The cost
of getting the rock to your garden is also a thing to think
about when choosing your rocks. If you have a local quarry,
then you should go and hand pick all your rocks. Once
the rocks are delivered, you will have to move them into the
position you want for your garden. Please take into consideration
that one piece of rock that measures 45 cm x 23 cm x 23 cm
(18" x 9" x “) will weigh about 43 kg or 95 lbs.
So you will get about 25 pieces of rock per ton. Now taking
all of that into consideration, you should be able to tell
how many rocks or how many tons you need for your garden. Make
sure you draw out your space first and then calculate the number
rocks you will need before ordering or going to pick out the
ones you want for your garden.
The next stage of this process involves actually putting your
plan into action. Mark the shape of the area that you have
designed for you garden. However, remember at this point, to
allow for an area of screen or moraine type plants that will
be at the base of your rock garden. Don’t be afraid to modify
your design.
THE
CONSTRUCTION
Before the rocks get to your area, make sure
the ground has been very well prepared for first. Lying of
the rock is the
most important thing you will do during your whole entire construction
process. The rocks should be at the bottom of the slope. The
angle that you place the first rock at is the angle the rest
of the rocks must follow. The grain of the rock is also important
in determining the angle of the rocks. If in nature the rock
is formed in strata, horizontal or vertical, then the angle
must be the same way. Maybe take some pictures of different
rock gardens, to see exactly what you would like your rock
garden to look like. Try and experiment with keystone
and different types of rocks. The rocks should be ‘planted’
in the earth. It should be firmly in the soil. The reason for
this is because at some stage, whether it is weeding or planting
or collecting seed, it may become necessary for you to stand
on the rocks. In addition, when standing on the rocks, you
will need them to be stable and sturdy under your feet. In
addition, any instability may cause root damage to any plants
or flowers that are around the rocks. After you laid the first
stone, lay the rest the same way and with the same motion. In
addition, I bet that before you are done planting the rocks
for your garden, not all of the rocks will be the same way.
INFILLING
Once you have constructed the first level of
your garden, it will be important for you to fill in this
with a good soil
mixture. This step is the most important part and must be done
with patience and great care. The ‘infill compost’ has to be
very firmly packed behind, under, and in-between each piece
of rockwork. This step is necessary in the prevention of spaces
for the frost to penetrate. That is saying that
you have mixed ‘suitable’ compost for this infill between the
rocks. However, firm packing doesn’t mean solid compaction.
There must be enough aeration in the infill compost for oxygen
and drainage. What you need to avoid are pockets where the
roots will surely penetrate but will find no compost. If it
does find compost, this will kill your plants. If you infill
during every step of your construction, it will help the aeration
process and makes things easier later on for you. # # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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