First time creating a rock garden

[Jupiter]

I thought I'd post some pictures here of the new area in my garden, the rock garden! This is something I've always wanted to do and researching it bought me to this forum in the first place.

On the weekend I started filling in the first crevice bed, not a large area but a I have another couple of areas I'm planning to build in the same way. I haven't packed the crevices with my packing mix yet; hopefully I'll get a day this weekend to do that. Then it will be a matter of mulching with broken rock before the fun starts with planting up. This project has taken many months to get to this stage; what with a young family, a full time job and bad weather I'm lucky if I get one day a week out there. I can see light at the end of the tunnel now though!

Comments, suggestions and questions are very welcome. I have a lot to learn.

[Tim Ingram]

Hi Jamus - I would say plants would grow in that just great but it looks a little of a jumble to me. I can't speak from experience because I haven't made a rock garden as such, but built raised beds with stone, but what has always attracted me is using stone more naturalistically - that is laying it in strata and with 'natural' jointing as Symons-Juene describes in his classic book. I'm not sure anyone does this anymore and crevice gardens are so effective at growing plants. These are a few examples from the Czech Republic that caught my eye and which if I was starting a new garden would be nice to copy. I'm not too sure though if these are suggestions you might welcome! The great thing I found about visiting these gardens was the culture of rock gardening that ran through them, which sort of runs through this Forum too. I would suggest using a little less rock and developing different distinct areas in the garden which could allow experiment with different plants, but to be honest this is all secondhand and I would love to do something similar to what you are doing in our own garden!

[Jupiter]

Thanks Tim, I agree but I do have a vision and I'm hoping that once its filled in and a lot of the faces of stones are hidden it will look more natural. Not to mention planting which can only soften it. I posted half finished pictures for exactly this reason, to attract constructive criticism. I'll post more pictures after the weekend and see if you think it's an improvement.

On the other hand, this is not going to be strictly a naturalistic outcrop because I'm working the steps into the design.

[Maggi Young]

That is some very nice rock you've got there - local I assume? Some areas just do not have a good-looking local rock - or even ANY local rock, so you're off to a good start just on that count.

I like the way you're incorporating the steps. On a natural slope you will be able to capitalise on extra drainage too. Altogether a promising site, Jamus.

[Jupiter]

Thanks Maggi for the encouraging words. Yes all the stone is local. The flat stuff is what's known locally as "bluestone" which is a metamorphosed sedimentary rock similar to slate, but with coarser layers. The rounded lumps are what is known locally as "moss rocks" which are basically tors of various schist and other minerals, well weathered.

I'm looking forward to getting back into it. I've got plants in pots which Otto sent me waiting to go in.

[Matt T]

I love what you've done there, Jamus. So many planting opportunities in all those crevices and the pockets between the larger stones. No doubt you will soon have plants self-seeding between the steps too! I'm looking forward to seeing what you plant and how it develops. Keep up the good work.

[Mavers]

I find placing rocks so they look natural very difficult.........I'm never truly satisfied with my efforts.

But my initial reaction is that you have done a really good job Jamus & as you say when the plants have softened it the effect will be a pleasure to look at.

I really like the crevice section.

I'll look forward to seeing it planted up & how it matures.

Mike

[Jupiter]

Well it's almost a year on and I'm heartened and encouraged by how plants have grown in the rock garden. Even some of the alpine species made it through the summer and are growing away nicely now that the cooler, wetter weather is here.

I'm extending the crevice garden with some older more weathered stone I bought from a local farmer. Yesterday I build a stone seat/step which will be a nice place to sit and contemplate the garden. I started the new crevices and I'm happy with how they are going. I feel this time I'm coming to the task much better informed and a tad wiser, so it's evolving nicely with loads of places for all the special plants I have germinating in the nursery now. Another day of gardening ahead today and the forecast of for 20 degree and sunny. I'm a pig in mud.

I'll take more and better pictures this afternoon once things have developed a little.

In the foreground is the old crevice bed, 10 months since planting out, in the background are the new crevices, half finished.