Make a Shady Rock Garden

When to Start: fall
At Its Best: spring
Time to Complete: 6 hours: preparation and planting

Materials Needed:

• topsoil (if not working on a sloping site)
• attractive large stones
• carpet bugle
• creeping phlox
• dog's-tooth violet (Erythronium)

• hardy ferns
• hostas
• ivy
• violas

Prepare the Soil

If you have a flat site, create a slope with weed-free topsoil in fall, so it has time to settle. If you have a slope already, weed it thoroughly. Dig in some grit if the drainage is poor.

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Select and Place Stones

Set rocks into the soil, with larger ones at the base of the slope and smaller ones at the top. Bury one third of each stone, and angle them so that rain will run off into the soil.

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Check Planting Positions

In spring, buy your plants. Arrange them around the rock garden while they are still in their pots, to see where they will look best, before deciding on their final planting positions.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How to Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited