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

(Continued from page 4)

Figure W

Setting Additional Plants

Once you have created your riverbed, you can place the rest of your plants. Work down the landscape and play around with plant arrangement. You want to mix plant textures. For example, Dean and Derek spread out grasses, perennials, and even more Juniper to create visual interest. Add colorful flowers, but make sure to spread them out so that the look is natural. Lay the plants out in their containers, make adjustments and then begin to set them (figure W).

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	Step back to get a better feel for ideal placements.
	Loosen the soil around the roots before planting.
	Setting the plants

Rock Solid Planting Tips

• Take your time when setting your plants and flowers. Occasionally step back and observe your work, making sure you have not grouped too many of the same flowers or plants together.

• If you decide to use plants that come in a container, take them out of the container first, and then scratch the sides of the soil to loosen the roots . You want to expose some of the fibrous material so that once they are set they can take in water faster.

• Set the plants in holes that are twice as wide as the plant's roots. Do not make the hole too deep. The top of the plant should stick out of the ground about a quarter of an inch. Eventually, when you add mulch, the feeder roots at the top of the plant will get water immediately.

• Some of the plants you choose may come covered in burlap. As you set it, peel it away from the root, but it is recommended that you not remove the whole piece of burlap. It is holding the root ball in place, and removing it entirely puts the plant at risk of having the roots break apart.

• Doug adds more style to the garden by planting a weeping blue atlas, attaching a piece of twine and rock to the tip, and burying the rock. The result: a nice and simple arch.
  

  	Figure X
  	Figure Y
  	Figure Z

• As the final touch, Dean and Derek create the stepping stone area. The pathway will serve as a good place to weed and water from as well as be a decorative addition. They dry lay the stones to check for placement and then they set them. To set them, trace the stepping stones with your shovel, remove the stone, and then dig an individual footing for each stone before setting them. You do not want the stones about an inch or an inch and a half above grade so they will be even with the ground when mulch is added.

• To enhance the visual impact of the stepping stone area and contrast the mulch, Dean and Derek add river bed stone between the stepping stones (figure X). Use your shovel to place a small amount in between each stone. Do not overdo it. You want your riverbed to retain that natural, under-designed look.

• The final step is to add mulch (figures Y and Z). For this project Dean, Derek, and Doug spread approximately two inches of pine bark mulch. Although the mulch's main function is to decorate the area, it also helps retain water for the plants, as well as prevents weeds from coming through. Once in place, your rock garden is complete.
  

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RESOURCES :

Hardscape: Innovative Hard Landscaping Materials for Gardens
Author: Anne Marie Powell
Publisher: David & Charles Publishers (2001)
ISBN: 0715310089
Order this title from Amazon.com.

Step-by-Step Outdoor Stonework: Over Twenty Easy-to-Build Projects for Your Patio and Garden
Author: Mike Lawrence
Publisher: Storey Publishing
ISBN: 0882668919
Order this title from Amazon.com.