Rocky garden has many advantages, and above all, it's compactness. As a rule, stavnitelno small area of rocky garden grows fairly large number of species of living plants, and planting of stones can enhance the beauty of each.

Rocks and vegetation - the kinds of rocky gardens

In addition, rocky gardens are unpretentious and very decorative. Through the use of perennials with different bloom period they remain decorative for a long time and does not require sophisticated uhoda.Iz many forms of the rocky garden is most common rock garden . rocky alpine garden, showing the beauty of the mountain landscape, designed for alpine plants inhabiting the highlands. This garden seems most logical for a natural rocky area to the existing rock outcrops. In areas where no natural formations of this type, they are created artificially, and the construction of the stones try to put in the form of untouched rock. Is of interest to a miniature version of the rock garden, the so-called alpine garden, in the role of small architectural forms. When designing a rocky area of any size main task is to build its organic relationship with other elements of the garden. Of great importance is a good choice point of view, use the perspective effect, the right choice of breed, as well as size, shape and even texture of each stone. Skillfully created a rocky garden has long-standing impression of the landscape, so it's best if your stone has weathered, "aged" surface covered with lichen or moss. Keep in mind that some lichens require direct sunlight, and many mosses prefer shade and moisture-loving. When carrying the stone, along with the plants need to maintain the conditions of their natural habitat. A variety of rocks used for construction of the rocky gardens, are different in their origins and impacts on vegetation. The most valuable material is "warm" stones - dolomite, tuff (travertine), limestone, coquina, sandstone. Layered, with a porous, air-and watertight, these sedimentary rocks are slightly alkalinized soil and combine perfectly with the majority of plants. Their only drawback - the relative fragility. Igneous rocks are very decorative and are widely used in landscape design. Granite, gabbro, diorite, basalt, diabase, in contrast to the tuffs and sandstones, rugged and durable. But, unfortunately, it's dense and "cold" stones: the soil around them a little acidifying, so choose the plants should be chosen very carefully. In addition, the chopped chunks of rocks very slowly "getting older" and therefore bad "fused" with the surrounding landscape. Very similar in their properties and metamorphic rocks - schist (gneiss), and quartzite. The success generated by the rocky terrain to a large extent depends on the accompanying vegetation. Basis of plant variety - ground cover types: they are unpretentious, grow rapidly, have early and continuous flowering. In the rocky garden looks great Aubrieta, Iberis, thyme, saxifrage, Phlox subulate, mouse-ear chickweed, rezuha, mylnyanka, a variety of blasting - covering the void and fill the gap, they quickly form a multi-colored carpets and impart color to the composition. However, these plants should not be let out of control: planted on fertile soil, they are aggressively gaining territory, displacing more "peaceful" neighborhood. Spectacular decoration of any rocky gardens - low-growing shrubs (cotoneaster horizontal, and various heathers) and decorative forms of conifers like pine mountain, junipers, arborvitae. Do not forget about flowering perennials, among which you can also find species and varieties suitable for growing in a rocky garden. For example, Chinese astilba height of 15-25 cm (flowering in mid-July compact paniculate inflorescences pinkish-purple), ditsentra exceptional height of not more than 20-30 cm (blooms from mid-May to early August, the flowers are pink, gathered in racemose inflorescences) avens, gypsophila, flax years, various primroses and other plants. In addition, we can not ignore the early spring flowering bulbs. First senses a gentle heat from the sun, the thawed raspustyatsya snowdrops and crocuses, followed appear Proleski, hionodoksy. Definitely recommend planting species tulips (Kaufman, Greig) and daffodils - bright sparks of their flowers very animate the rocky landscape. Discuss this article you can on our flower forum (of plants).