Starting from scratch... can you offer any advice please?

[SueStephens]

Hello everybody,

I am a fairly experienced gardener with a hillside garden in West Wales. I grow (almost) everything from seed but as yet, have never tried alpine/rock gardening (not sure if there is a difference).

I have a fairly steeply sloping South West facing area of ground with acid soil about 30metres by 10 metres where I would like to create an alpine/rock garden. About 20% is in semi-shade, rocky and almost vertical the rest is in full sun (when we get it!).

So... I wondered if you could give me a little advice on plants that would be fairly easy for a newbie... Because it is quite a big area, I would like to grow everything from seed (otherwise it would be just too expensive!). I will be doing the 'groundwork' this year and plan to plant next year...

Any other tips/experiences would of course be welcomed...

Thank you so much.

Sue

[Maggi Young]

Welcome Sue!
This sounds like a super project you have in mind.
I think there will be all sorts of ideas coming from Forumists.
 
You must have a good snoop around the forum and see what others are growing that might be of interest to you.... the Flowering Now sections for the Northern Hemisphere will be a good starting point... plus any of the specialist pages for plants types you particularly like.

You've got a good area of ground to cover... we'll need to get you some seeds organised  .... send me your address .... just click on my name to find my contact details or on the little screen logo at the left of this post to do so via personal message. 

[David Nicholson]

A photo of the ground as it is now might be useful?

[SueStephens]

OK, I have overcome any potential embarrassment about the state of my garden, so here goes! After all... it is work in progress...

Although the hillside is well drained, and can be very dry in summer...it does get quite damp in winter so I guess that I need advice on species which will stand up to these conditions...although I know that I will be able to overcome the potential winter wet with careful ground preparation.

But... the most important thing to me is to grow the plants from seed.. and I would like to stick with my usual method of sowing in the Autumn and letting the seed pots overwinter to germinate the following Spring or, germinating at room temperature. I'm afraid that I usually fail using the fridge in and out method!

So any suggestions from anyone... of plants that would be happy to oblige would be so welcome.

Sue

PS Sorry that the photos aren't rotated... I have tried twice to fix the problem but as you can see, I failed miserably


 Edit by Maggi: fixed the pix for you, Sue 

[angie]

Hi Sue

Boy that looks exciting. I am waiting to see what our experienced members come up with. My garden is mostly herbaceous and I would love to introduce an alpine area. My only concern is that where would I put all the plants and shrubs that I did out. I just can't throw plants away. Will be interested to see your area develop in something lovely, hope you will post pictures as you go along.

Angie 

[SueStephens]

Thank you Maggi for doing that..
Angie - I certainly will post some pictures. Just got to figure out why my photo editing software lies to me!!!!
Sue

[John85]

Hello Sue:welcome
How lucky you are.I am sure plenty of rock gardeners dream of a site like that instead of a bit of flat land.
Why do you want to propagate only by seed?Plenty are really easy by cuttings and many cultivars have to be propagated vegetatively.At the right time ask friends and neighbours for cuttings.Often cuttings are wasted and go on the compost heap.
You can also buy a single plant ,trim it and have a dozen of cuttings giving a bit later plenty of plants to swap.

[art600]

I can see that you have put in a lot of hard work to prepare the site.  Now for the rewarding part - the plants

[Darren]

What a great site Sue!

Acid soil in sun in your climate would seem ideal for the primulas, autumn gentians, meconopsis and other Himalayans. Perhaps some dwarf rhododendrons for evergreen interest?

A drift of Narcissus cyclamineus would be suited to the conditions and would look lovely for weeks in early spring. I find seed of this is best sown fresh, if you can find a donor.


A visit to Aberconwy nursery would give you some ideas (and spending opportunities, but I know seed is your preference...).

 

[SueStephens]

Hello John,

I am not really anti anything that I haven't grown from seed... its just that I get such a buzz from doing it. I think that seeing those first seed leaves gives me a bit of an adrenalin rush and I keep wanting more! Especially if the seed isn't easy to germinate.
But I take your point, and buying a few plants this year would mean that I can take cuttings this year and have lots of plants by the time I am ready to plant next year.
But now I just have to decide which ones....

Sue

[SueStephens]

Hello Arthur,

Can you recommend any bulbs that are easy from seed? I did manage to germinate one (yes, only one) Albuca shawii last year and it flowered the same year (in November?!) but I would be grateful for any suggestions.

Sue

[SueStephens]

Hello Darren,
until I read your post, I didn't even know that alpine rhododendrons existed - a bit embarrassing really! But I looked them up and now I think I am in love! I really like Rhododendron camtschaticum which will certainly be on my shortlist.
I had a look at Aberconwy nursery plant list... I think I would be spoilt for choice! But it would certainly be worth a day trip - it always takes ages to get anywhere in rural Wales!

Sue

[Maggi Young]

Sue, if you fancy some retail therapy then a visit to Aberconwy is a must...... especially since they don't do mail order!
(They attend quite a lot of SRGC and Alpine Garden Society shows, however)

They have a tremendous range of plants and they are very nice people.... which always helps, in my opinion!

You'll be astounded  by what they have.... I suggest packing tea and sandwiches and maybe a sleeping bag, and heading off some fine day in Spring or Summer. You will not regret it!

[zvone]

Hello Darren,
until I read your post, I didn't even know that alpine rhododendrons existed - a bit embarrassing really! But I looked them up and now I think I am in love! I really like Rhododendron camtschaticum which will certainly be on my shortlist.
I had a look at Aberconwy nursery plant list... I think I would be spoilt for choice! But it would certainly be worth a day trip - it always takes ages to get anywhere in rural Wales!

Sue

Hi Sue!

Welkom on Forum!
You will get it all here which are you interested for making of beautiful garden in.
All have possibilities. Courageous forward!

For help I send you picture of alpine rhododendron :




More pictures:https://picasaweb.google.com/111021317308786555031/Raduha

Or look My topic: Rocky gardens from the mountain of Raduha

Best regards! Zvone

Pictures of My Japanese garden : http://zvonem.blogspot.si/
My pictures of Mountains: http://zvone.blogspot.si/

[art600]

Sue

Crocus and Narcissus are easy to grow and certainly you should try Cyclamen.

Cyclamen hederifolium and coum are both extremely hardy and will flower witihin 3 years of sowing..