How do you make a rock garden?Ĭhris Bonnett, the gardening expert at Gardening Express, says: ‘Rockeries are easy to build from scratch and can be designed to fit in any garden.’ However, there is some light preparation that should be done first. Then, display your miniature rockery on a table, patio or balcony garden. Simply choose rock garden plants – succulents, cacti, and miniature bulb plants like the Japanese iris and daffodils – and scatter gravel or small pebbles around the plants. Recycle old basins and pails, and use plant pots to create a minimal landscape that will sit perfectly in a small space, even as part of grassless patio ideas. Rock garden ideas are not only reserved for large, expansive spaces.
Shrubby alpines like Daphne alpine and Hebe buchananii can be used to add height. Since the 1980s rockeries have been out of favor with less committed gardeners, as they have gained a reputation of being fussy and old-fashioned.īut as gardens are getting smaller, it could be time to take a fresh look at this past trend and take inspiration from the alpine landscape in our small garden ideas.Įasy alpines can be acquired from garden centres and the most popular ones include primulas, thymes, saxifrage, pulsatilla, sedums, campanulas and the dainty maiden pink Dianthus deltoides. The majority of alpine enthusiasts use rock gardens replicating their natural habitats to grow these mini mountain plants. Alpine plants have contributed to miniature landscapes for years and they’re having a revival. Invest in hardy 'seaside' plantsĪlpines are a good choice for younger gardeners: their Thumbelina-scale – along with the variety of shapes, textures and colors – seems to fascinate children. But don’t worry if this isn’t the case – lots of succulents such as houseleeks and sedums, are similarly hardy.Įxcess water can be a problem, so whether you are planting straight into the ground or using raised garden bed ideas in your rockery, you’ll need to improve drainage amongst the rocks by adding plenty of grit and gravel. If your garden is frost-free you should be able to grow these outdoors all year round. Look for succulents that are borderline hardy, like Aloe striata. Most succulents use their fleshy leaves to store water, but some also use their stems and roots, and the leaves tend to be thick and waxy to reduce evaporation.
This plant group is a diverse as it is fascinating, including the likes of aloes, cacti, houseleeks and agaves. Plants are pretty amazing things, and none more so than succulents, which have adapted their structure to hold on to water so they can survive in inhospitable dry conditions, extreme heat, and with very little maintenance. (Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)