Troughs

[rgc]

In January, I asked about the suitability of using a faux lead trough made from fibreclay as an alpine trough.

Have had a go and built up the surface. Started to plant it up with Kabschia saxifrages, Saxifraga oppositifolia 'Vaccariana', Primula 'Lismore Peardrop', Primula marginata, Aethionema 'Warley Ruber', Androsace and Erodium x kolbiana 'Natasha'. Couple of pictures below.

We will see how it turns out.
Bob

[Maggi Young]

So far so good, Bob. Nice choice of plants.

[Lesley Cox]

I think your trough will be great Tristan. You'll soon want more.
So far as deep rooted things are concerned, in my two big double washtub troughs, I've found that Anchusa caespitosa and the low Carduncellus species (rhaponticoides and pinnatus) are especially happy and have made very large plants in less than two years, having got their roots down among the large boulder-type rocks I used as ballast and to save on planting mixture. Jasminum parkeri is doing very well too. Usually though, I use my troughs for much smaller things such as drabas, small primulas, campanulas, Gentiana verna etc which are a bit small for the open garden.

[Tristan_He]

Oh, I have plenty of this kind of trough Lesley, just working out how best to use them! 

Here's one of the Sempervivum calcareum clones (possibly Mrs Giuseppe - I'm not very careful with keeping labels I'm afraid and anyway it's quite difficult to label plants in crevices!). Only planted last year but establishing well. Slightly to my surprise one of the Sax hybrids also seems to be establishing well on a shady side of the same limestone wall.

[Tristan_He]

Bob I like the faux lead and the choice of plants. I think it would look even better with a grey top dressing to match the rocks. Please post more pics when it's settled down and in flower.

Best, Tristan

[Tristan_He]

... and here is the Saxifrage - I think it is 'Tvoje Pisen'

[Maggi Young]

This photo of Jo Walker  and her rather unusual sink garden is from Razvan Chisu - Raz wrote

"Alpines are easy! Jo Walker's creative planting in a sand blasted sink"

[David Nicholson]

Wonder if the loo looks good too?

[Tristan_He]

Good drainage too I expect...

[brianw]

I recall Brian Walker used to chip all the white glaze off sinks too.

[Lesley Cox]

.....and much pleasanter then those "in lieu." 

[Lesley Cox]

Sorry David, didn't notice yours before rushing into print. So much for my brilliant pun! 

[jomowi]

Established for 1 year, trough contains the following flowering plants: Primula x Kusum Krishna, Draba bryoides imbricata compacta, Androsace sempervivoides 'Susan Jane', Sax. grisebachii.  Other plants (probably too many in the long term!): Dryas tenella, Dianthus erinaceous, Bolax gummifera, Sax. 'Dawn Frost', Sax. 'Dora Ross'

[Lesley Cox]

Jolly nice Maureen.

[John85]

Once de glazing has been chipped off I guess the sinks are porous and prone to frost damage.
Is it not better to use Ian's method and paint them with glue and sand as he does with polystyrene boxes?