Hi Carol, I understand the build-up as follows: first small stones, second rubble & soil (of which I have plenty) and third the 'really good stuff'a mixture of 50% ??? and 50% grit. Then you centre the rock, put in the plants, cover with grit and water well.
Please spell out the ??? for me. I do not understand the language.
HI, i have recently planted a range of troughs with alpines and followed the process that Berghill describes so well above. Just 2 suggestions. I was advised to use JI no.1 as it has less food in it. Alpines do not need it and you may not want them getting leggy. Second if you place some of your rocks very close together you can squeeze the plant into place and emulate their natural environment. If you look at where they grow above the tree line on mountains they seem to thrive in nothing at all!
Anyway go for it. it is surprisingly easy to do.
More thoughts. Position the trough before you fill it. They weigh a ton and it's there for good. Also the main risk is from winter wet conditions. So you may wish to think how to do this. In the wild they are often kept relatively dry by low rainfall levels and a layer of snow.
Me again. I stood my trough on bricks which are just hidden. The trough appears to float, which is a nice ironic garden touch.Improves drainage too.
If you can get to Wisley the alpine area has a number of troughs planted up in different ways. I particularly like the one with vertical slates/roof tiles, with the plants placed between. You might like to line up parallel slate pieces to look like vertical rock strata breaking through the soil.
There are some pictures of my troughs on the Hello Forkers thread, posted by Gardengirl a few weeks ago.
Posts
Please spell out the ??? for me. I do not understand the language.
Many tx, Tim
HI, i have recently planted a range of troughs with alpines and followed the process that Berghill describes so well above. Just 2 suggestions. I was advised to use JI no.1 as it has less food in it. Alpines do not need it and you may not want them getting leggy. Second if you place some of your rocks very close together you can squeeze the plant into place and emulate their natural environment. If you look at where they grow above the tree line on mountains they seem to thrive in nothing at all!
Anyway go for it. it is surprisingly easy to do.
More thoughts. Position the trough before you fill it. They weigh a ton and it's there for good. Also the main risk is from winter wet conditions. So you may wish to think how to do this. In the wild they are often kept relatively dry by low rainfall levels and a layer of snow.
Me again.
I stood my trough on bricks which are just hidden. The trough appears to float, which is a nice ironic garden touch.Improves drainage too.
If you can get to Wisley the alpine area has a number of troughs planted up in different ways. I particularly like the one with vertical slates/roof tiles, with the plants placed between. You might like to line up parallel slate pieces to look like vertical rock strata breaking through the soil.
There are some pictures of my troughs on the Hello Forkers thread, posted by Gardengirl a few weeks ago.