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Mini-rock garden instead of the alpine slide

Many people dream of having rock gardens that combine the discreet beauty of mountain meadows with the beauty of natural stone. However, its construction is a rather laborious process that requires not only the correct "engineering" device, a deep knowledge of the needs of the plants used, but also, not least, a developed artistic taste. Not everyone succeeds in turning a certain jumble of stones with plants between them into a harmonious whole, pleasing for many years. In addition, maintaining the "mountain" landscape takes a lot of time and effort - the vegetation that has descended from the heights needs to provide its usual conditions, restrain competition between species, timely renewal of plants, take care of the wintering of some of them - in a word, constant supervision. Many alpine species are winter hardy only up to -20 ° C, and their cultivation under our conditions requires some experience. This is one more reason that only truly enthusiastic people succeed in real rock gardens.

AlpenhausAlpenhaus

In Europe, where the climate is milder and the use of such plants is more versatile, there are specialized nurseries for the cultivation of alpine vegetation. One of them is the English "D'Arcy & Everest", which annually participates in various exhibitions. Over the 19 years of its existence, it has collected an extensive collection of plants that are tested here, multiplied and disseminated along with the experience of their cultivation. In the Grand Pavilion of Chelsea 2011, one could see an Alpenhaus stand surrounded by charming mini-container gardens. We decided to demonstrate them not only as an example of high exhibition culture, but also as a source of ready-made ideas. Such easy-to-care mini-rock gardens will definitely come to the courtyard of busy flower growers and everyone who loves to grow plants in containers - in small gardens, courtyards and even on balconies.

Mini-rock gardenMini-rock garden

For the device of a container mini-rock garden, first of all, you need to select a suitable container. Not necessarily stone, which would be ideal, of course. The main thing is that it does not take away too much from nature and naturally harmonizes with the modest mountain vegetation. It is possible to adapt wooden boxes, and used ceramic utensils, and simply slotted bricks by expanding the holes in it. Young people will gladly settle in such bricks, which will stretch their roots to the ground, strengthen themselves and be able to winter so successfully.

Mini-rock gardenMini-rock garden

A prerequisite is the presence of holes for water drainage. The height of the container should be such that a soil layer of about 15 cm is placed in it - in such low containers it is easier to provide wintering for plants. Drainage from expanded clay, gravel or crushed stone with sand is placed on the bottom without fail, a small water-retaining layer of sphagnum moss and peat is laid on top (you can use the appropriate soil for orchids, without pine bark). Then the actual soil for the plants is poured, which is made up of sod land with a small amount of peat and sand. He doesn't have to be rich. For the bulk of plants, a slightly acidic soil is acceptable, for calcephiles growing in nature on limestones, dolomite flour is added to a slightly alkaline reaction. These two groups of plants should naturally be grouped in separate containers.

An additional decoration of the compositions, especially while the plants have not grown, will be filled with pebbles or rubble (for calcephiles, you can use limestone), pieces of limestone, beautiful layered or chipped medium-sized stones.

The simplest and most unassuming to care for is monoplanting from rejuvenated (Sempervivum) or beard (Jovibarba). For a small pot, like this one in the photo above, 1-2 species or varieties are enough.And in larger containers, you can grow whole ornamental compositions, for which many varieties of different shades are now available - from green to almost black, which also change color during the summer, and, accordingly, the appearance of the entire composition.

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Use flowering perennials - sedums, alpine asters, creeping gypsophila, carnations, thyme, undersized yarrow, delosperma (seeds are now sold), sunflower, chippings, seaside armeria, styloid bryozoan. Some geraniums are also suitable - for example, Dalmatian and sessile-flowered (in the photo there is a variety of Nigrun with gray-brown foliage) and Veronica (in addition to Prostrate Veronica, which you will find in the photo, Armenian and Caucasian will do). But diastia will not suit us, it does not grow in our long-term culture, as in England. You can only plant it for the summer. There will be problems with the wintering of the Levisia. There is no need to get carried away with variegated plant varieties, they are less resistant than species forms.

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Leaving the plants to winter in containers, it must be borne in mind that the plantings should go dry in the winter, for which it makes sense to cover them from rain in late autumn. If the weight of the container allows, it is advisable to transfer it to a place protected from the winds, and when snow appears, throw more of it on top and from the sides. In case of a snowless frosty winter, it is safer to cover it with non-woven material of grade 60 in 4-5 layers.

A few more photos in continuation of the theme - from other stands. On them you will see how you can combine sedums and juveniles, include drought-resistant low grains and bells in the compositions.

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