Rock garden project

[Lawrence]

I will be starting a new project shortly, with the removal of 2 large conifers I will have the opportunity to build a small rock garden. I have access to both water worn limestone and tufa, but not enough of each to complete the garden just using one type of stone. I would like to use both types of rock as this would give me opportunity to plant directly into the tufa, but would this look incongruous using two types of rock?

[ian mcdonald]

Hello Lawrence, as you probably know, tufa is formed where water percolates through limestone. They should not look out of place together. Planning how to build the new garden would save time altering it later if it does not look right. Will the new garden be seen from all angles i.e. an island bed or just from one side. I have a few tufa blocks in my sandstone wall, see img 1010863. They are not Geologically accurate but are there to provide an extra habitat for small ferns, such as rustyback and maidenhair spleenwort. Perhaps you could visit an area where tufa can be seen, to give an idea how to plan your own outcrop? My wall has an earth bank behind which allows rain water to percolate into the stone wall. I would think that newly planted tufa will need plenty of watering until the plants are established.

[Lawrence]

Possibly having a re think regarding which stone to use ! Firstly I don't think the tufa is going to be an option, availability ( I know Steve Furness sells it but has no telephone or email to prevent a wasted journey !) and cost. I have dug out quite a lot of Yorkshire grit stone , I would think 30 or 40 pieces , including some 50kg + size pieces. Do I use the Yorkshire grit stone or do I bring in water worn limestone, which I have access to, at a cost?
The pictures show some of the stone, mostly the grit stone but also the odd piece of water worn limestone

[David Nicholson]

I'd be inclined to complete the job with grit stone if you have enough of it Lawrence. I know it's a very 'Yorkshire' way of looking at it but I can't see a lot of point in buying stuff unless it's absolutely necessary. I don't know how much limestone you have but you might like to think about using this in troughs. Equally if you drop Steve Furness a line and establish quantity available and price for the tufa again you might like to think trough.

[Lawrence]

Thanks David
You have confirmed what I was thinking, can't beat a "Yorkshire" way 

[Lawrence]

Well David i have to confess I have ignored your advice and opted for the limestone! The project is still ongoing and will look an awful lot better once the new fencing goes in next week. I have incorporated about 3/4 ton of limestone gravel, and the soil is looking quite good. Would appreciate any constructive criticism regarding the rock work though. I still have a small amount of limestone left, generally smaller pieces which I intend to incorporate after I have topped dressed the whole thing with 10mm limestone clippings.
First 2 pictures are before and the following five or six are progress to date

[Lawrence]

Progress so far!
Your thoughts welcome

[David Nicholson]

Looking good Lawrence. Ponds don't float  my boat (not a pun!) but interesting to see that you prefer, as I do, rather 'meaty' planting pockets  than what has become the norm for a traditional crevice bed. I like crevice beds but I think they are a nightmare to maintain and especially so if, for any reason,  you change your mind on the planting and they are not easy to plant up in my view.

[Lawrence]

Thanks very much David. Not a great fan of the pond either, it is an cast iron drinking trough from my father in laws old farm so has sentimental value to Helen my wife. Will be glad when hard landscaping is done so I can get on with the best bit- the planting, not sure whether to leave the planting until the spring though

[Tristan_He]

Thanks very much David. Not a great fan of the pond either, it is an cast iron drinking trough from my father in laws old farm so has sentimental value to Helen my wife. Will be glad when hard landscaping is done so I can get on with the best bit- the planting, not sure whether to leave the planting until the spring though

Surely drinking troughs are for filling with alpines Lawrence? 

[ian mcdonald]

I made the mistake of putting in too many rocks, about two thirds rock to one third scree. This means there are less planting sites. My "rock" garden is flat and better planning would have provided more areas for plants and a more natural look. Each to his/her own though.

[Tristan_He]

Hmm... in my view a good rock garden needs to showcase the plants against the rocks, which means not too many plants. As they grow the plants will tend to spread and close over anyway, making it look less like a rockery. So perhaps it's no bad thing to overdo the rocks a bit. But as you say, each to their own Ian.

I think you would hate my crevice garden, which is made of slate pieces and is still waiting for a number of seedlings I have growing on to be big enough to plant out in it. Even I think it looks a bit bare! Some nice mosses are starting to colonise the shady corners though.

Lawrence - I'd say give the rockery as much height as you can given the constraints of your site - it helps to showcase the plants and add impact as well as aiding drainage.

[kindredspiritkevin]

Those rocks look really good. It looks like it'll mature quickly when the plants are in.

[brianw]

There must be some good one liner jokes here ;-)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-43638944