Rockery development

Hi all, I have had 2 large conifers removed at the bottom if my garden and I now want to use the space for a rockery.

My question is, I had a lot if pea shingle covering the area so can I use this now to build the area up and then put the soil over it for planting in?? Please please say yes!!! If not then I don't know what I am going to do with it all!!

Thanks

Lesley x

 

Better to add the soil to it rather than just put any soil on top. Indeed it might even be better if you scraped a decent amount off and then used it when you have built your rockery, as top dressing round the plants.

 

Well I mixed all the pea shingle in with the soil and luckily, when I was driving home from shopping I noticed some a couple of roads down digging up his garden and chucking the soil into a skip!! Golden opportunity...I thought I would be cheeky and ask if I could take some soil so that saved me a fortune cause he said help yourself!!! So now I have my basis for my rockery! Just got to get some stones and plants now and bring it too life!!
It's been hard work in this weather but can't wait till its done!!!

 

I have 2 climbing roses which I need to plant along with 2 clematis. The original idea was to have the clematis in the fence behind the rockery and the roses in tub on the fence next to it to the right of the rockery. However, I have 2 young children and hubby has suggested it would be better to plant the roses behind the rockery to avoid any potential 'thorny' falls! I can see his logic.

Will this be ok do you think and does anyone have any pics of anything similar?

Thanks

Lesley

 

Do you mean behind the rockery Lesley or at the back of it, between the brickwork and fence? There is no reason why you shouldn't plant the roses at the back but if they were in between they would be very difficult to remove, should you want to do so in the future. They will also need support on the fences, either wires or a strong trellis.

 

I have out my 2 roses at the back of the rockery on the fence and it is slowly starting to come together! The tree stumps seem to make a nice feature too! I just need some nice rocks to out in it and and more flowered and bulbs. It's so hard deciding what flowers to get and how many I'll need. I was thinking of getting some ground cover perennials but was worries about them taking over the plot! Here's a pic anyway

 

Here's the picture. Wouldn't let me attach it on the phone last night

 

It's coming on nicely Lesley. I wouldn't have thought the area is big enough for ground cover plants. As you say they will probably take over. Check out Alpines and Rockery plants at your local nursery they aren't quite as rampant. Avoid Aubrieta (Aubretia that was) they have quite a large spread.

 

Hubby got me some rocks today but he got far too many! I only needed about 5 and he brought home around 20!

 

Here's a pic with the rocks in. I personally think that it looks ok as it is and there is room for more plants and spring bulbs. Wha o you think?

 

Personally, I would prefer to see more rocks, some placed together, as I think it looks more natural. It worries me slightly that some of the soil seems to be against your fence. ( Thinking about rotting issues).
I like the nice curvy shape and the logs are good too. They'll be a nice habitat for creepy crawleys.

 

I agree, I wouldn't like to see the fence in a few years with all that soil built up against it.

I was thinking of doing a rockery, and I'd then fill it with Campanulas (I know I bang on about them all the time) and just let it do its own thing and I think it'd look nice!