ROCK GARDEN

----J.NAVANEETHAKRISHNAN. ----BSA-09-912

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Rock Garden
A

garden in which rocks and plants that grows on rocks form the chief elements of the landscape is a rock garden. Rock gardening is a specialized and intensive form of gardening which requires special conditions for both growth and survival. The plants that are found in rock gardens are those that grow naturally at higher altitudes or under subarctic conditions

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 Rock

gardens have become increasingly popular nowadays mainly because of the lack of space available for the average garden. Although installing a rock garden is a challenging task, it is definitely fun. The rocks provide many different crevices and niches into which carefully selected plants can grow.

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History of rock gardens

Records

reveal that the earliest rock gardens were built in China and Japan. Historically, rock gardening began in the British Isles. There were increased numbers of travelers from Britain who visited Switzerland and other mountainous parts in Europe. They were fascinated by beautiful alpine plants and sought to bring some back to grow them at home.

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 Rock

gardens became a part of horticulture in Great Britain in the 1920s. From Britain the interest moved on to the United States. Since this gardening requires special conditions for alpine plants to grow, popularity of rock gardens remained limited.

FEATURES OF ROCK GARDEN

Rock

gardens are aesthetically appealing and horticulturally stimulating Rock garden can be considered as an art form that is mainly based on the use of rocks in the landscape. 4/14/12

 Cliffs,

outcropping rocks and similar formations inspire formation of rock gardens. Rock gardens combine the delicate beauty of flowers and plants with the ruggedness of rocks. Rock gardens encourage the study and cultivation of plants and wild flowers that grow amidst the rocks. Maintaining the rock garden is a very challenging task.

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Rock garden plants

gardens involve growing mountain plants that can withstand severe winter cold. Development of rock garden is also possible in warm temperate, sub tropical and tropical climates as in temperate ones. Many rock gardens feature different kinds of plants. 1. Terrestrial plants These plants found in warm climates quite obviously differ from those grown in colder ones. In desert and semi desert areas, cactuses and other succulents grow well. They look especially good in association with 4/14/12 rocks.
Rock

Dwarf Bulbs in the Rock Garden

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Soil for rock garden

It

is always better to select plants that grow in the soil available instead of changing the soil to suit the plant. As such, rock garden plants do not require heavy soil. Chips of crushed rock, coarse sand, perlite or crushed limestone or chrushed oyster shells can be used to improve the soil texture in rock gardens. Use soil that has been fertilized and light in texture. This soil will facilitate water drainage.

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Rock garden design

When

choosing a location for your rock garden, look for a slope that will have good water drainage. Water trapped between the rocks can cause plants to rot. Good drainage, light, pure air and a healthy soil are essential ingredients for design and construction of rock gardens. Plants should be arranged in such a design that they look natural. There is no symmetry of design in rock gardens. Evenness in size or distribution looks unnatural in rock garden design. The rocks should not be distributed evenly as this will look very artificial
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 Gardens

look best when they are bold and large, rather than puny and trivial. The rocks should all be of the same source, but of different sizes. Avoid placing them regularly. In artificial rock gardens, there should be no impression that rocks are separate and they can be loosened and removed. The soil should be firmly packed and rocks should be placed in the best possible positions. Landscaping with rock is an art. When constructing rock gardens, the plantings amongst the rocks take center stage. Popular rock gardening are alpine design rock gardens and Zen and Japanese gardens.
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Rock garden site requirements:

The

first step in creating rock gardens is to evaluate the area with reference to the contouring and availability of rocks. This is because rocks from the area will blend nicely and naturally into the garden. Appropriate sites for natural rock gardens are slopes, banks, and small valleys or dells. Pools, streams and waterfalls greatly add to the beauty and charm of rock gardens. Artificial rock gardens are constructed in placed where native rock formations are not available. Artificially created gardens that mimic native rock formations can be seen in Europe and America.
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Rock selection
The

rock usually used in rock gardens is porous. Hard impervious types of rocks such as granites are not preferred. Hard sandstone is very good. Soluble limestone is not advised. Instead, a soft light weight porous limestone rock called 'Tufa' can be used as it is very congenial to plants. Hard rocks are unsuited as they take long time to weather. They also do not encourage the growth of plantations like mosses and lichens.

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Care of rock garden

Rock

gardens demand regular care. Rock plants succumb to extreme summer humidity and harsh winter conditions. Propagation of rock plants is an important aspect of rock gardening. Many of the plantations in the rocks are short lived. It is always better to have a stock of plants for replacement. Spring is the best time of the year to propagate rock garden plants. September is also an excellent time for some of the rock plant cultivation.
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Zen Rock garden

The

Zen rock garden emphasizes form, foliage and structure. While showy flowers are central to Western rock gardens, a Zen rock garden is more austere and simple. A Zen rock garden is often suggestive of a landscape of islands in the sea. Island stones are carefully selected and placed. Clean gravel is put around them in patterns resembling waves and currents.

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ZEN ROCK GARDEN EXAMPLES

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Japanese Rock Garden

Japanese

rock gardens are built on certain basic design principles. The Japanese believe that one cannot and should not create something artificial in nature. A key point to remember in Japanese rock gardens is balance or 'sumi. You are always trying to create a large landscape even in the smallest of spaces. The components have to be chosen with care. The right kind of balance should be struck. A small stretch of raked sand is suggestive of an entire ocean. 'Less is more' is definitely applicable to Japanese rock gardens. The elements of time and space are important 4/14/12

JAPANESE GARDEN EXAMPLES.

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 This

emptiness is a key element of design in Japanese rock gardens. There are certain specific stones and combinations that are characteristic of the spirit of the Japanese rock garden.

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We present examples of rock gardens on this page that we hope will inspire you to create your own unique and personal rock garden.

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Berm Rock Garden

Aberm is a type of raised garden with informal edges.This style of rock garden is often used on a relatively level site. Freely draining rock garden soil is mounded at least 12" above grade. Rocks of different sizes are then placed and partially buried along the berm.

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Water Feature Rock Garden

Water features are an ideal focal point in a rock garden. They enhance the naturalistic feel and add another element of interest. Rock garden plants can be tucked along water's edge as well as along the slopes and niches created in the construction of the water feature.

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Rock Garden for Miniature Conifers

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Lewisia Mound
This

is an example of a rock garden dedicated to growing one type of plant, in this case Lewisia cotyledon which is a flowering succulent native to the Western U.S

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TroughGarden
Many

rock garden enthusiasts grow smaller alpine species in troughs, creating miniature landscapes with plants and rocks.

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Terrace Garden
Gardens

on slopes can be terraced to create planting areas. In this hillside entryway, a sweeping flagstone pathway is flanked by terraced beds and a planted rock wall. The high desert garden uses native plants to create a natural landscape that requires minimal ongoing care.

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CreviceGarden

Crevices are those intriguing gaps between rocks where plants can grow while seeming to defy all odds. They can be found in horizontal and vertical spaces such as those found in rock walls or in the gaps between pavers on a pathway. In rock gardens, we often intentionally create small spaces between rocks in which to tuck our plant treasures. Alpines and other rock garden plants are ideally suited to grow in these spaces as they often do in nature.

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Hill side Rock Garden

This hillside garden creates a sense of drama with large scale rock accents. Sloped sites are naturally more freely draining than level sites. The native soil was amended with gravel to further enhance drainage.

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Reference:
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http://www.wildingerfarm.com/buildarockgarden.h http://www.targetwoman.com/articles/rockgarden.html

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