Creating an alpine shelf?

Today I've been looking at ways of displaying my sempervivum. I have seen nice pictures of displays in troughs. I have also seen nice displays of tender plants on a shelf in a conservatory. It gave me an idea.



Please forgive the weeds in this picture. As this still a "dead" area I haven't worried about It too much. The areas with planting in I am looking after better. Hopefully by next summer I will have been able to sift through and relocate all the topsoil that got dumped here earlier. The area will probably be levelled and gravelled.

I was going to decorate this side of the shed with planted flower pots either hanging or standing on shelves. I thought maybe I could create a box shelf under the window and use it as an alpine display. Once established, I could leave it to its own devices. If I can't overcome the mechanics of attaching it to the shed I could possible stand it on legs.

Any thoughts?

G.

 

Are you thinking of literal shelving like the wooden one or more rock gardenish, there are some great ideas for wooden shelving that could be adapted to suit, also if you're going to put gravel down maybe you could add that rock garden look.

 

This sort of thing.



G.

 

That looks good, this is similar but on a bigger scale again could always adapt it.

 

It depends on how much you want to spend. I had a similar situation in our last garden (30 years ago, so no images now). I bought some 3 by 2 paving slabs, stood some on end and rested the others on top ( bit like a trestle table). I then built an edge round with concrete bricks (matching the slabs). That gave me a depth of about 6 inches Filled it with gritty compost and planted it up.
Or you could use 3in by 3in fence posts to make sturdy legs, again with 3 by 2 paving slabs on top. My raised beds in the Alpine house were created like that.

 

Grab yourself an old pallet buddy I knocked this up in an afternoon

Can be made to any size you wish, think pallets. lol
BTW have you any chicks from named var. of Sempervivums available.
Regards
C

 

Love the pallet/ladder @BigC I don't suppose you took pictures of how you made it, did you? I've got a pallet just crying out to be made into something else.

@Jack Sparrow I've seen guttering used on sheds as a plant trough. I know people use it for Strawberries, so I can't see why it wouldn't work with Alpines.

 

Sorry for not replying sooner, just back from my hols.
It's quite a simple affair @Joolz have a look at this side view you may get a better idea. Basically its 2 main legs with 2 diagonals, Box frame base, 4 shelf holders holding the frame together and the shelving boards..easy peasy.

 

All stocked up.

 

Looks lovely