In rock gardening, as in any other type of gardening, there are certain elemental requirements which must be provided before success is to be achieved.
For the great majority of plants which are suitable for use in a rock garden, there is nothing in the way of cultural peculiarities which may cause the beginner to hesitate. Some subjects, especially among the true alpines, are admittedly difficult to handle, but there is no occasion to try these at the beginning; and even in sections where they may not be grown at all, there are so many others which will do nicely that their absence is not a serious handicap.
As in other types of gardening, so in rock gardening we have taken much of our garden lore from Europe, especially from England. The English climate is entirely different from that in most sections of the United States. So for many years the supposition prevailed that rock gardening was not adapted to American conditions.
The reason for this supposition was that many rock plants and alpines which thrive in the English climate were not so well pleased with the environment they found over here; but no notice was taken of the fact that there are just as many plants suitable for rock-garden work which thrive better in our American climate than they do in England! Adding a conservative outdoor fountain as well can give any rock garden a decidedly unique style.
Many native American plants have been found suitable for rock gardening, and there are hundreds of others not yet procurable through ordinary commercial channels, many of which are gradually becoming available.
Now that we have broken away from the continental apron strings in rock gardening and have really started out for ourselves, rock gardening may be satisfactorily undertaken in practically all sections of this country, even though the same plants may not be utilized everywhere. As our experience increases, we are grinding out what can and what cannot be grown under our widely differing climatic conditions.
In this connection it may be pointed out that the true alpine plants are native to sections where the growing season is extremely short, usually not over a hundred to a hundred and fifty days. They are to be found in all parts of the world between the timber-line and the snow-line, or so far toward the north or the South Pole that the climate is similar to that of high mountain elevations.
Quite naturally, such plants as these do not feel at home where they are subjected to weeks if not months of hot, dry summer weather. Fortunately, however, plants for the rock garden are not restricted to the alpines.
If there is one thing more than all others which the great majority of rock plants, including not only the true alpines but the many additional varieties suitable for rock work, insist upon having, it is extra good drainage. If the rock garden is artificially built, with a wall water fall and elevated, as it usually is, above the general ground level, good drainage will be assured provided a suitable soil has been used.
For the natural rock garden, to be planted where nature has built the framework of the garden, and there is no additonal adornment of outdoor water features, this should be the first consideration. Often rocks are to be found in abundance where drainage is poor; such a spot, no matter how picturesque it may be, will not make a good site for the rock garden. Under such conditions, good drainage may be provided artificially, but usually only at considerable expense.
As to the soil itself, most alpines and rock plants shun a clay soil; nor do they prefer an extremely sandy soil. The soils to which they are native are composed mostly of decomposed rocks and shale in which the majority of our ordinary garden plants would fare but ill. Some of them insist upon having this type of soil when grown under domesticated conditions, while others are more adaptable.
As is the case with some of our other garden plants, some of the rock plants prefer a lime soil and others an acid-reacting soil, while still others appear to be entirely indifferent. Unless the rock garden is to be constructed on a very generous scale, the matter of soil, while important, is not a serious consideration, for the comparatively small amount required may readily be made to order by the amateur rock gardener.
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