Evening star., 1947-05-25
Rock Gardens of Two Types
Informal Arrangements Follow Lines
In Keeping With Natures Processes
BY w. H. Younemon

and against a shrubbery background
If shaded by trees there is likelihood
Of injury from the drip from the
leaves or from greedy tree roots,
especially those OF the maple and
elm who will seek out plant food
and moisture, usually to the detri-
ment of the plants. II the shade is
too dense the variety of plants that
may be employed in the rock garden
will be greatly restricted. Light
shade Is suitable for a considerable
number of desirable plants, but
dense shade even this far South
eliminates many worthwhile kinds,
Exposure Is a Factor.
The exposure-direction which the
rock garden faces-llas an important
bearing upon the choice Of plant
material. Generally speaking, an
eastern or northern exposure Is most
desirable. Facing the south there
is the problem of supplying sufficient
moisture to keep the plants growing
and Towering during the heat of
the summer A western exposure is
even more difficult since in addition
to the tendency to dry out, the heat
of the sun in early spring induces
plant growth which is quite likely
to be injured by late freezes. Even
the hardest plants may have their
flower buds blasted by late freezes in
such a situation. Also the alternate
freezing and thawing may dislodge
| the rocks, necessitating considerable
repair work each season.
However, the site selected should
depend upon the property and how
best 1t can be made to fit into the
plan as a whole. With the site
determined and the general plan of
the garden in mind, the next step is
/ to obtain the rock and to place
them properly. Generally speaking
| it is desirable to get fairly large
pieces of stone since they are most
likely to "stay put" In most cases
two thirds to three-fourths of each
stone will be buried, leaving only a
small part of one edge exposed.
Also, the upper surface of the
rock" should slope to the rear to
carry water into the soil rather
than away. This helps to supply
moisture to the plant roots. It also
tends to restrict the washing away
of the soil.
Soil Mix Is Most Important.
Equally important to the place
ment of the rocks is the use of a
good soil mixture. Some rock
garden builders put even more
emphasis on the proper use of sand,
humus (peat moss, well rotted
manure, compost, etc., and stone
chips than they do on the rocks.
Certainly it is important to have
sufficient sand in the soil mixture
to permit the penetration Of the
roots and moisture. The humus is
needed to hold moisture so as to
prevent the mass from drying out
too rapidly or too completely. The
addition Of plant food at the time
OF construction is advisable. This
most likely will be some well-rotted
manure and, If the plants can utilize
1t, bone meal. Many sun-loving
rock plants thrive in a sweet soil
and both the bluestone chips. and
bone meal contain lime.
The list of plants for each situa-
ton is long. However, the size of
the rock garden will influence the
choice. The small rock garden is
best, planted. to, the more dwarf
plants than to the larger growing
kinds. Very large rock gardens can
utilize small trees and large shrubs.
Paved terraces and small rock walls
are limited to the creepers such as
the thynles, saxifrages and sedums.
Many bulbs are adapted to the rock
garden and in the shady one we
may use some of the dwarf ferns.
In general the beginning rock
gardener will want to limit his
choice to the more commonly en-
ployed flowers and bulbs. AS ex-
perience is gained in rock gardening
some of the more choice things will
be desired. When the gardener
has reached this stage, he has ar
rived-is rock garden addict. But
this stage will never be reached
unless the garden was well planned
and properly constructed in the
beginning.