Flowers for Rockery

Site Selection

• The ideal site for a rock garden is one that looks natural. Large trees that cast some shade, established shrubs or even areas with large rocks will work. Choose a site away from your house or other man-made building if possible. Select an area with small valleys or slopes, but remember that dirt can be utilized to create these features if they are not pre-existing.

Soil Preparation

• The first step in preparing the soil is to remove all of the sod and weeds. The type of plants you intend to grow in the rock garden will determine the best way to prepare the soil for planting. Rock garden plants require excellent drainage. Amend the top foot of soil with sand, small stone chips or grit regardless of what type of rock garden plants you are going to grow. For woodland plants, amend the soil with peat moss, leaf mold, decaying compost or other organic matter. Amend it with lime or limestone chips if the plants prefer alkaline soil.

Choosing Plants

• Many types of flowering plants are ideal for rock gardens. Good choices for a beginner include Dianthus, snapdragon, columbine, aster, clematis, crocus, foxglove, geranium, gladiolus, hellebore, coral bells, iris, true lilies, peony and Nicotiana. As you expand the species in your rock garden, try Draba, monkshood, Arum, milkweed, bellflower, cyclamen, Daphne, gas plant, Fritillaria and gentian.

Plant Care

• Rock gardens are pretty care free once established. It is important that the plants remain cool during the winter. Mulching the plants once they die back is an option, but the mulch must be removed as soon new growth begins to emerge in the spring. Some plants will need the soil directly around their roots amended with limestone, peat moss or bone meal, as soon as the mulch is removed. During the summer. regular weeding and an occasional deep watering is recommended during times of extreme drought.