Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Alpines => Topic started by: Maggi Young on May 13, 2020, 01:47:13 PM
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Colin Mannion, from Yorkshire, has asked ..... " Hello! I have a decent sized bank of rock overlooking my driveway which is a mix of bare face and (currently) weed overgrowth. I am thinking of spending some time to convert it into a proper rock garden which will provide some interest and be more aesthetically appealing. I don’t know where to start. Can you offer any suggestions? Thanks in advance. 🙂 Colin"
What can we suggest?
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My first idea is to tackle the weeds, taking special care to remove all the real nasties, like couch grass. This may mean you need to remove some of the existing stones in the bank to get at the roots, sorry, there's no easy answer to that.
This thread http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4656.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4656.0) Crevice gardening, in defence of rock - will surely give lots of ideas of how you can proceed - even without making a full-on crevice garden. Main point is to avoid a "plum pudding" effect, where there are just rocks dotted about at random like plums in a pud !
Some more thoughts here : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13927.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13927.0) Embrace the slope?
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Yeah... I'd be worried about weeds too especially if there are any perennials or an extensive seed bank. You really don't want to be dismantling your rockery to get at resprouting ground elder or dandelions (Ian's pet one notwithstanding!). What are the weeds?
I suppose the question also is whether Colin is after an ornamental bank or something that is a bit more of a haven for rare alpines. I mean you could get pretty good weed suppression and a fabulous display with things like Geranium cinereum, dwarf pinks, rockroses, Sempervivum, Erodiums, saxifrages etc. Bulbs too if there is enough soil. Phlox douglasii? There was a thread about a N American garden with a colossal rock in it with nice cultivars of this species on it. Dwarf willows are highly recommended if it's not too dry... a photo of the site might help. Some of the easier auriculas are great and can look really exotic.
If you are into something a bit more challenging, have a think about alpine habitats: crevices, rock ledges, scree, etc. Use the rock available to create sunny and shady, wetter and drier niches that coould provide habitats for more difficult plants: Ramondas; Drabas; dwarf Campanulas, Edraianthus, gentians. It's well worth getting hold of some seed from a seed exchange of a reputable rock gardening club such as might occur in Caledonian areas. That will give millions of plants to experiment with.
The other thing... have a think about access to your bank for maintenance. This could be actual steps, or strategically placed rocks depending on your agility.
I believe Pottertons Nursery are opening up again shortly, maybe he should speak to them for ideas once he is ready.
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Two things just struck me - first what is at the top of this bank? Roots could be a problem, and spread of weeds. On the other hand it might be a bit wetter than my rockery, which tends to dry out too easily as it has a wall behind it.
The other thing - Cyananthus lobatus. Perfect trailing down a vertical face like this.
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Colin has joined the Forum now so I hope he will pop up to pose any more questions he has and to clarify the situation of his bank.