Alpine Plants

[kitty52]

Hi Have just joined forum as am looking at planting an alpine garden and need a bit of advice on planting.  Can anyone advise on planting plans i.e. how far apart should I plant and should I plant e.g. 3 plants the same together.  I appreciate this is really a personal choice but just looking at some general advice.  Thanks.

[Maggi Young]

Hello Kitty,
 Well for sure you will have fun with your project. This forum is chocabloc with threads which will help you, here are just a few.......
Practical projects for the garden : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=14882.0
Blog of the construction of a new tufa mound in the rock garden : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=7049.0
Advice required for alpine plants : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=7377.0
Troughs : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=3537.0
Crevice Gardening : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4656.0
From the garden and alpine house of a forumist : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=9445.0
My rock garden - by Franz Hadacek: http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=5503.0

I think your planting will be governed by two main things - one, the amount of space you have and to, how much money you want to spend.  For a start, at SRGC  and Alpine Garden Society shows, there are usually sales of seeds - quite the least expensive way to get plants.  There are lots of seed suppliers, and nurseries, of course, and again, a good number of these can be seen showing their wares at alpine shows.  The SRGC has a great list of  trusted nurseries - http://files.srgc.net/journals/NurseryListSRGC.pdf in this format or in the Links pages, see  menu list i near top of each page.   

Depending on where you live it can be a real boon to be able to order online and there are a good number  (still, thankfully, though not as many as there used to be) of specialist nurseries where you can shop in confidence. Off the top of my head, I'm thinking the likes of Ardfearn or Potterton's - both listed in the special pdf - these nurseries will also be happy to chat with you  about the kind of plants you  fancy trying - suggesting  a list of plants worth trying for your part of the country, garden climate etc.  Some do special collections of plants for troughs etc which are a great "starter pack" for someone in your  situation.  If you have a reasonable size  of  garden you wish to plant  and can afford it, by al means buy and plant in "3s" - that will give you a more fully "clothed " look to your garden more quickly - but - and this is quite a big BUT ! - most folk are so enchanted with the immense range of alpine and rock garden plants available from these nurseries that they are tempted to just buy one each of lots of different plants to try them!  And why not , indeed?

If you have a look around the threads I've given  links to, you will probably find  photos of  many plants you really fancy trying - you can search the forum, via the Search link (fourth from the left near the top of this page, any forum page in fact) to find out more about them and see how they are growing for others. The mail order suppliers  that you will find in the pdf  of specialist nurseries  will have good websites where you can see their  offered range of plants, and of course, make an order if you cannot visit them.
 I think you will soon discover from your reading of the forum which plants are easier  than others and which appeal to you most - there is a world of  beauty and temptation, and some interesting challenges out there - enjoy! - And please keep us up to date with how you get on, or pose more questions.
 Hope this helps,

 Maggi

[kitty52]

Thanks Maggi realised post had gone twice somehow!!! Lots of info for me to look at, much appreciated. On looking at plants there are so many I like the look of so can understand the difficulty I will have in choosing.

I live in Scotland and plan to start planting prob end of March?? No doubt I'll  be back on here again.