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Creating a Rock Garden Emulating nature with a backyard rock garden. From "Rock Solid" episode DROC-209

(Continued from page 3)

Choosing and Laying Out Plants

• With the heaviest boulders set, and the landscape roughed out (figure J), Dean, Derek, and Doug head to a local nursery to pick out their plants (figure K).

  Figure J

  Figure K

  
  

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• Look for plants that are suited to your local climate. They should have multiple textures to enhance and not clash with the aesthetics of your rock garden. For this project, some of their flowers and plants include chrysanthemums and blue rug juniper bushes (figures L and M).

  Figure L

  Figure M

  
  

  Figure N

• Doug, Dean and Derek use juniper bushes, small boulders, and river bed stone to create their simulated river (figure N).

• They start by positioning the junipers (figure O), starting at the top, and working down to create a naturally flowing "river" that will empty into a simulated basin (figure P).
  

  Figure O

  Figure P

  
  

• Once the junipers have been positioned, set them using a combination of peat moss and fertilizer (figure Q). The peat moss helps to hold water next to the plant, while the fertilizer feeds the plant.

• Once the junipers are set (figure R), Dean and Derek dig out the river bed, following the line of the junipers.

  Figure Q

  Figure R

  
  

  
  

• Set small boulders along and in the river bed (figure S) to create a natural flow. Setting these stones isn't formal stonework: it's all about positioning great stones rather than shaping them – so take your time at the quarry when picking them out and take your time at the site when setting them (figure T). Just like the large boulders in the planting bed, Dean and Derek suggest setting these in a footing.

  Figure S

  Figure T

  
  

• Follow by adding the small river bed stone (figures U and V). If you live in an area that has a lot of undergrowth or roots, you will need to lay down landscape fabric first, and then put the crushed stone or river bed stone on top.

  Figure U

  Figure V

  
  
  
  

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  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Creating a Rock Garden