Alpine Sedum will spread into crevices and along stones to create vivid mats of color. Keep Planting!Ī rock garden isn’t static it’s always changing. Its addition will result in conditions ideal for both tender and hardy succulents as well as small arid grasses and perennials. It prevents the mix from washing out and reduces slope erosion. Layer 4 – Gravel Mulch: Succulents of all kinds love gravel surface mulch. Layer 3 – Fill Soil: Pour Black Gold Cactus Mix into all the openings between the cobble/rubble layer. Leave deeper pockets for planting larger plants. Leave gaps between the anchor stones to support and raise the planting layer on top. Rounded rock or cobble tends to roll or slide without the structure of supporting anchor stones. They can be rounded river rock, cobble, or coarse crushed stone with sharp edges that grab the soil on slopes. ![]() Layer 2 – Cobble/Rubble: Stones on this layer range from slightly larger than your fist to robin’s egg sized. Set them within the bed area in a naturalistic, irregular arrangement that’s pleasing to the eye. They provide height, help support smaller stones, and reduce erosion. Layer 1 – Place Anchors: Anchors are key boulders and large rocks that are higher than the final garden grade. Without careful design and placement, rock gardens can look like rock piles! Hand place materials to resemble a natural feature where each stone looks at its best and compliments the plantings. Allow plenty of time for a thoughtful arrangement of the rocks placement really matters. They are easiest to create on a preexisting slope that receives full sun. Their size can be as small as a rocky trough or cover an entire front yard, but all must be sloped or mounded for increased drainage. Contemporary rock gardens in the American West use similar techniques, but the plants grown are more tender species from South Africa and Mexico.Īmerican succulent rock gardens are easy to make, sustainable, and demand little water. So, the elevated English rockeries were raised with rock and pebble and created on south-facing inclines. In the wild, alpine species thrive on mountainsides where elevated natural pockets between the rock keep them high and dry. They learned that succulents could survive English winters if the soil was as well drained as a mountain scree. Created along a driveway slot, this layered alpine rock garden shows the adaptability of rockeries to small spaces. ![]() To compensate, English gardeners learned how to build rockeries or rock gardens. Daily summer rains and great soil explains why their gardens are so fabulous, but succulents need high sun, fast draining soil, and occasional watering to thrive. This created a learning curve for English gardeners. Created on a slight incline, this beautiful western rock garden featuring aloes, cacti, and local stones and cobble.Īlpine succulents from the Atlas Mountains flooded into 17th-century England where the climate and soils were totally unsuitable for growing them.
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