Building a rockery
Building a rockery properly to look natural is hard work. Most rockeries are built on a slope to show off the rock.
Once you have chosen the site for your rockery you must then choose the appropriate type of rock either sandstone or
granite, imitation rocks are available from garden centre's which are lighter to install and kinder to the environment. The
larger the pieces of rock the more convincing the rockery will look as at least a 3rd of the rock will be buried into the
slope. Ensure that the strata (natural lines of the rock) are in line with each other and that the rocks tilt slightly back
into the slope.
It is best to start at the base of the slope and work upwards in layers leaving planting pockets between the rocks. Alpine
plants are used to growing in small cervices amongst gravel and shale which is the environment that you are trying to create.
The ideal time to build a rockery is during spring or early summer when the growing season is just beginning. This gives
plants plenty of time to grow good roots.
