Got a question concerning a rock garden?

newtohosta-no more · Post by **newtohosta-no more** » Apr 21, 2007 6:27 am

Okay people....I have a large pile of rocks. Some are quite large. Is there any secret to using them for a "rock garden"? I 'm considering starting a bed around the back end and sides of my firewood shed. Do I just pile up the dirt/compost/etc....place the rocks here and there and plant in between them? This spot get lots of mid-day and afternoon sun,but would be quite shady in the mornings as it is at the west side of my house. Would this be a good place to plant some of my mini/small hostas and lots of herbs? Are there other plants that I can consider for a spot like this?
I'm not too talented with the garden design stuff, so I need all the help I can get.

All advice and suggestions would be appreciated.

renaldo75 · Post by **renaldo75** » Apr 21, 2007 10:38 am

The herbs would do fine there - but I'm not so sure your mini hostas will like it being that hot in the afternoon. I'd think a morning sun situation if you had it would be better for them. And also if you are combining hostas with herbs, I'd want larger hostas. Herbs basically grow like weeds when they like a spot. I'm afraid they'd completely overshadow a mini hosta collection pretty fast. And then you'd have the added bonus [in a few years after you discovered the error of your ways] of trying to dig rampant herbs out of a rock garden. I'd rethink the herb thing - I went thru an herb phase too. My advice: Get over it fast & move on!!

If you still want to do the mini hostas there, my suggestion would be to plant a nice smaller tree [Japanese Maple maybe] towards the west side of your rock garden that will shade your minis somewhat.

Are you wanting to mound up the soil somewhat & then add rocks. Kind of like a bermed garden only with rocks throughout??

newtohosta-no more · Post by **newtohosta-no more** » Apr 21, 2007 11:18 am

That was what I was thinking , Ren, except I want some of the rocks partially buried in the dirt. I know what you mean about the herbs taking off when they like a spot, but I do want to plant some that we use in cooking all the time. My DD loves to have fresh herbs handy when she cooks.
Good suggestion too about preparing shade for the hostas or planting something larger.....maybe a more sunloving hosta instead of my minis? I thought perhaps that Hens and Chicks could be planted there and maybe some sedums, but what about something more flowery that will add a splash of color?

kHT · Post by **kHT** » Apr 21, 2007 11:56 am

Joan we have done our memoral raised bed with a rock boarder and have lots of plants in there from iris to aguga to poppies to hostas at the base. Ya want a photo?? Sedums with great along with ground covers like corsica mint.

John · Post by **John** » Apr 21, 2007 3:33 pm

The SECRET to a successful rock garden is to bury MOST of each rocks for a natural-looking effect. Think of the tip of an iceberg...

I'd mound the soil into a pleasing shape, adding the largest rocks first. If possible, and if the rocks are appropriately shaped, the "strata" should be facing the same general direction.

What you don't want is a round hill studded with rocks like a raisin cookie.

I'm not sure I'd use herbs and hostas together, as many herbs prefer drier conditions. But, your garden will no doubt have some micro-areas of shade... which will remain more moist.

Another idea might be to use a path, or dry-stream, of pebbles matching the rocks...

Have fun with it!

thy · Post by **thy** » Apr 21, 2007 6:56 pm

Great advises.. rocks are to be buttied at least ½ way

Plant the herbs in pots, they like it and do no harm

Post by **Chris_W** » Apr 21, 2007 10:38 pm

Some great advise already given, so I'll just share my experiences with rock gardens.

I've done rock gardens 2 ways. 1) Terraced with a rock border and 2) Random rocks with planting pockets in between.

When I've had a freestanding mound I've prefered to do terraces to avoid the studded raisin cookie look

But I've tried to make the terraces as natural looking as possible.

The random with pocket approach has been used several times on hillsides that needed some erosion protection where I also wanted flowers. The last one I did I just picked up the rocks and chucked them at the hill. Wherever they "stuck" is where they ended up. Then I put some good compost in between and planted. It ended up being fairly natural looking, but after a few years you could barely see the rocks since everything grew ove them so quickly

Another idea is that you might consider a shape other than just a circle. Making it a little freeform might help to give it a more natural look.

Good luck with it

Chris

newtohosta-no more · Post by **newtohosta-no more** » Apr 22, 2007 7:12 am

Thanks for all the great advise everyone! I had to laugh at the "raisin cookie" remark, because (knowing me) that's exactly what would have happened if I just went ahead and did it myself without really thinking about it.

So I've got some considering to do now. The weather is very nice now, but I'm sure we'll have another bad patch or two...so as soon as that passes, I'll put some plans into motion. I've got to measure the proposed planting area and draw it all out on my graft paper first. Then I can decide which plants will work better in different locations. Once it's done, and if it looks okay, I'll post a pic. If it looks crappy , no dice!

And Karma....I'd love to see the pic of yours!
And Pia...I did some herbs in pots last year, so I'll probably still keep some in pots near my back door for quick access.

kHT · Post by **kHT** » Apr 22, 2007 7:11 pm

Here are some of the shots so you can see the rocks we used for the memorial garden. The 3 perennial hibiscuses in the pots are now in place on the west end.

thy · Post by **thy** » Apr 22, 2007 7:55 pm

http://images.google.com/images?sourcei ... a=N&tab=wi

if it dió not work..type ..stenbed in Google and ask for pics

Still the only herbs I would recomend is Lemon thyme and slow low ones like that..and remeber the icebers digged down stones and most of the bigones in the bottom

Chris ...didn't know that phrase, but know exactly what you mean

Wrote an artickle to the Danish Alphine Society a few months ago..

I can kill a mini in a New York Minute.. prefere to do the typing thing

Just got a h. Uzu No Mai.. just to nail it

Pia

newtohosta-no more · Post by **newtohosta-no more** » Apr 22, 2007 9:46 pm

Thanks for all the pics ,Karma and Pia! Wow....what gorgeous beds using rocks! I'm not that creative or talented,but I'll do my best to make it attractive and interesting.

impatience · Post by **impatience** » Apr 23, 2007 12:25 am

We did this a few years ago. I hope the pics will help. The plants have tumbled over many of the rocks, so it may be difficult to see. I need to take some more pics.......I've let down since I got a camera I can't figure out how to use.

Better to take another tomorrow as this one is out of proportion. I hope you can get the main idea in the meantime. (you could lay on the ironing board with your chin at the end looking at your monitor to get this perspective!

).

newtohosta-no more · Post by **newtohosta-no more** » Apr 23, 2007 8:56 am

Very nice, imp! And I think I can see the rocks here and there. I had to laugh at your remark about laying on the ironing board. I had just gotten my ironing board out and set it up a few mins. ago and thought I'd check the forum while my iron heats up!