- Rockeries or Rock gardens are a very popular way of adding a feature to your garden and are a great way to display some colourful alpine or rockery plants. Having some large rocks with tumbling flowering plants or plants growing out of crevices can create a beautiful display or focal point - showcasing or highlighting the beauty of the plants and also the wonderful structure and features of the rocks themselves.
- To create or build a rockery you need some rocks or stones of varying sizes, some free draining gritty soil and some plants suited to rockery conditions. Rockeries are best situated in a sunny spot in the garden, somewhere that receives lots of direct sunlight. Best to remove any weeds or grasses and use some weed block fabric to prevent weeds or grass invading your rockery area. Position your large rocks tilting slightly backwards to create a natural look and bury the large rocks up to a third of their depth to keep them secure and use smaller rocks, stones and soil to firm them into position.
- When it comes to plant selection there are lots to choose from, amongst my own favorites include Campanula or bell-flower, these are available in shades of blue, purple and white. They’re a low growing plant that spreads out and tumbles over the rocks and most varieties will flower all Summer and into the Autumn and as with most Alpine and rockery plants likes good drainage and a sunny position. Dianthus or pinks are great for a pop of colour contrasting nicely against the rocks. They come in colours ranging from reds, pinks and whites and have a lovely clove scent - full sun or partial shade suits these plants and like moist & well drained soils.
- The mouse-eared gypsophila, Gypsophila cerastioides, is a dwarf, semi-evergreen plant with a creeping habit, stays nice and low.It has green-grey, hairy leaves that contrast with masses of small white trumpet-shaped flowers in Spring into Summer. Erodium is a super little plant for rockeries - a little bit similar to the hardy ground cover geraniums - usually in pink but can come in purple, reds, yellows and white.
- Other plants to consider are the varieties of fragrant herb Thyme, usually low growing with a spreading habit. Sedums and Succulents are a great addition to rock gardens - again need good drainage and a sunny spot. Gentians and Iberis and Lithodora and creeping Phlox are great for long flowering, reliable and easy to grow plants and the current weather will have them blooming nicely.
- For those who would like to do a rockery style planting but are limited on space you can use a similar range of plants in an alpine trough or container and it can look really well also and a nice project to take on - easy to do and very effective.
A few jobs for the week ahead;
- Deadhead faded flower on roses to keep them flowering for longer and give them a good liquid feed
- Keep deadheading bedding plants every couple of days to encourage more flowers
- If you’re growing courgettes pick them when small and don’t let them get too big when they turn to marrows - treat to prevent mildew with Mildew Clear if needed
- Hoe and hand weed any beds to keep on top of weeds and prevent them going to seed and spreading more weeds - they should wilt quickly in this warm weather
- Cover brassicas - the likes of cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower with fine netting to prevent the cabbage white butterflies laying their eggs on the leaves - set up a frame with bamboo canes using handy cane connectors
- Take summer cuttings of your favorite shrubs - Hydrangeas are a good choice for taking slips you can add to your own collection or grow on some gifts for anyone who’s keen on plants