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Alpines?
I have a small bed near a seating area. Its boundaries are a path and the brick base for the seats. It is on heavy London clay, although I've done a bit to improve the structure, and faces south .
If I put a load of course grit in it, could I grow alpines? Plenty of compost if needed. I'm a bit lazy about watering that far up the garden so it can get quite dry.
In London. Keen but lazy.
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Most true alpines need very sharp drainage and a good bit of sun. If you can replace two thirds of the clay with grit, and mix thoroughly with compost as well, you should be ok
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I think I'll give it a go. its a very small area (about 4'x4'). At least they like the sun. Can't do anything about the rain though. What do I need for the high nutrient aspect?
I could throw pots with the clay I have here. It's perfectly possible to create an area for alpines. Stick with some of the simple to grow, readily available plants and you won't be too disappointed. Try saxifrages for example, they will be fine.
If any fail, you can try again - they're not expensive in most GCs or nurseries
I wouldn't worry about high nutrients B3. If you mix compost in as you plant, they really won't need much else. In severe weather - wet that is - you can create a bit of shelter for them with a canopy of some kind if you feel it's necessary. Rain is what they don't like, hence the sharp drainage required.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I can certainly do neglect, Edd
Fairy, you give me hope! I see them in the garden centre and they look like little jewels.
Trial and error B3 - you can start small - literally - and get more adventurous as you go along!
GCs often don't have a huge range of alpine plants, but if you start with the more straightforward ones, you can always try a specialist if you want something different as time goes on.
Having them by a seat is the ideal place too - their tiny little flowers are easier to see
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
That was the cunning plan
there is,a gc fairly close with a large selection and you're right, they're quite cheap.
It might help if over the winter you propped up a pane of glass or Perspex on some bricks over the bed (or the more expensive alpines) to keep the rain off them and also surround them with grit after you've planted them. They should be fine, mine are on clay underneath and have survived so far. I never water them either.
Thanks lizzie