Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: FiestaRed on April 16, 2019, 01:11:32 PM

Title: Caring for planted troughs?
Post by: FiestaRed on April 16, 2019, 01:11:32 PM
In August of last year I had great help from this forum regarding the building of troughs. Those troughs I built have now been out all winter and the plants in them are starting to become well  established. What I'd like to ask now is how do I look after the plants and care for them in the future, warmer months?

Not really sure of the plant names but they have all come from the "Alpine" sections of local garden centres. I know there are a few Saxifraga's amongst them, sorry I can't be a lot more help than that.
Title: Re: Caring for planted troughs?
Post by: Maggi Young on April 16, 2019, 01:15:29 PM
Hard to tell without knowing what the  plants are.

 By the  way, when looking to see  if you  had  posted  photos  of the  troughs  before, I see that your  photo in this  previous  post  has  disappeared .... http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=16740.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=16740.0)  :'(
Title: Re: Caring for planted troughs?
Post by: FiestaRed on April 16, 2019, 01:34:33 PM
Thanks Maggi. Not sure what happened to the original image. Having checked on the troughs I made, I can see there are also a number of Sedum plants in there too.




Title: Re: Caring for planted troughs?
Post by: ian mcdonald on April 16, 2019, 04:34:41 PM
I think some of the plants which appear in the "alpine" section in garden centres can be aggressive and take over a whole trough. You should be ok with saxifrage. Sedums and houseleeks tend to spread about quite a bit. Troughs dry out fairly quickly in hot weather so make sure you water them well, perhaps before it gets hot in the morning and again after it has cooled down in the early evening. Make sure the troughs have plenty of drainage to prevent stagnant conditions, a sure way to bring an end to alpines. It is also good to visit an alpine plant nursery and talk to the grower who will advise on suitable plants for troughs and their needs. Good growing. We are all still learning about plants, even though we have been growing (or trying) for many years.
Title: Re: Caring for planted troughs?
Post by: FiestaRed on April 16, 2019, 10:48:08 PM
Thank you for all the help and advice Ian. It is really appreciated.
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