Make a Shady Rock Garden
Transform a dull, shady corner into a pretty rockery. Many shade-loving plants, such as ferns, ivies and violas, love the cool, moist, well-drained conditions.
- Excerpted from How to Grow Practically Everything
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DK - How To Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited 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.
Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How To Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley LimitedSelect 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.
Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How To Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley LimitedCheck 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 LimitedExcerpted from How to Grow Practically Everything
© Dorling Kindersley Limited 2010
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