Well, I will say, again about our favorite roller coaster, again will blame, call the dog’s graves to say that it is a sign of bad taste, banality. And that’s not guessed – I will not! I will allow myself only to clarify some fundamental points.
To avoid disputes, let’s divide the two concepts: Alpine slide and rocky area. The only thing they have in common is stones. But what stones, how many of them, what shape and breed they are – this is something that will never be able to reconcile the views of professionals and ordinary summer residents.
For the first rock gardens-a repetition of the natural mountain landscape on its site, which is a very difficult task that requires serious knowledge in Geology and botany, and in design. At the same time, stones of one or two rocks with a similar shape can be used. And there should be a lot of them, which is expensive. And plants for such gardens often have a capricious nature, are rare and also expensive. To professionally engaged in the rock garden, it takes guts and great traction to this garden idea. That is, as you can see, the mass reproduction of these Alpine hills, even in small gardens is almost impossible.
But you want! Therefore, the slide is sure to be. And it will be made, most likely, from the wealth that brought us a glacier. These are stones of all kinds of rocks, colors and shapes that grow like mushrooms in the spring in the fields. Finally it is time to collect the stones. And sometimes it seems to me that this time has passed – everything that can be already collected. Apparently, bad glacier tried, could not predict our current needs. In General, the lucky ones who first noticed the power and beauty of the stone in the garden, almost all collected and moved to their sites.
From what to do the hill decided, and here is where its win over? Of course, wherever you want. Only it does not always coincide with where it will be appropriate. In fact, such places in any garden can always be found. Agree: plain-it is, of course, plain, but in order to align the site, usually have to try hard. Do I have to? Any slope, downhill, hollow is the perfect place to beat. The minimum height difference is enough for the stones to fit into the relief. And here it is desirable to adhere to two simple rules (especially for small gardens) : the lower the hill, the better; and the more the hill is spread out on the sides, the better.
So, the stones were collected, the place was picked up, what’s next? And then arbitrarily throw his heavy prey, only that it was resilient to the selected site. But remember that the stones can not be divided by caliber, they should be placed mixed up, as will fall. And most importantly: your creation should not be geometrically correct, even if the style of the garden involves the correct layout and straight paths.
As the basis (or internal filling of a hill) it is best to use sand: the design will get additional stability, and plants will receive the required drainage. Well, if you complement your wonderful rockery and more track paved with the same cobblestone, the satisfaction of the created landscape will be enormous.
However, without flowers your rocky garden and not a garden at all. Therefore, the next important step is the selection of plants. What should they be like? First, long-term, because any summer house until mid-summer will look like a firewood, and the hill will seem an artificial novelty. Second, low, or violated the proportionality of the composition. Third, either evergreen or preserving throughout the season beautiful foliage, as decorate the gap on the hill-not an easy task.
Almost always the case that among the already growing in the area, plants will be those that satisfy these conditions. But somehow it turns out that we consistently can settle on the slide miniature roses, or annuals hosts, saying that the low will be, and the familiar. And in General: we like!
Do not argue: of course he likes it, otherwise it can not be, because so much of the soul was in the slide attached. But you know, there is one quality of a gardener that unites all of us in the unity and struggle of opposites: we always transplant something, transfer from place to place, learn to better understand our own garden. So, putting emotions, tell yourself than, for example, marigold growing in the stones, it is better growing in the flowerbed? Nothing! But there is a huge number of well-known and recently quite common and inexpensive ground cover plants, which under normal conditions, growing, very quickly lose their decorative appearance, turning into large shapeless plops. And one has only to move them to the hill, as they instantly transformed, acquiring bizarre and unique shapes.
It is important to remember that the hill can not be overloaded assortment of plants. Paradoxical rule:” it is better less, but more ” – just about it. That is, plants of the same species or variety planted by the group will always look more spectacular and natural than different flowers stuffed alone.
Most plants suitable for slides, blooms in spring or early summer. Personally it suits me. After all, at the beginning of the season a large blooming rockery attracts all the attention, taking him away from the half-empty, only gaining strength mixborders. Conversely, from mid-summer, calming down after a stormy bright flowering, this hill, acquiring all shades of green, on a hot summer day becomes the epitome of Alpine coolness and perfectly sets off the flushed colors of flower beds.
In order for the transition from the hill to other areas of the garden was harmonious, it is desirable to plant on its borders plants that organically fit into both the rockery and the adjacent flower garden. As a rule, it is evergreen and deciduous low shrubs with small foliage. Perfectly cope with this role all sorts of varieties of coniferous plants.
The care of such a rock garden is minimal. The main thing-do not let close to the hill perennial rhizomatous weeds, otherwise it will be impossible to remove them. On the hill there is no need to water, feed and tie up plants. As a rule, they are not damaged by pests and diseases. Sometimes you just have to cut the faded stems.
In General, the slides – even if not Alpine-we had, have and will be, but what they will be, depends on you. And it is up to you to decide whether to heed my advice. But believe me, I experienced in my own garden – help. In the end, no harm in trying — if you don’t like it, there’s always something to redo.