Rock gardening is an exciting way to add color and charm to your setting. When planting in stone, the beauty truly comes from the proportions of stone showing as well as plant. Usually you will want an equal portion of both. Instead of building retaining walls, long slopes can be handled by planting across them to check water flow and stop erosion.
You can use a single or double row of evergreens or shrubs and add a charming wate fountain. To further reduce the open area, try planting in curved line, this will also check the water flow and reduce maintenance. For some color try adding perennials amongst the shrubs. Daylily, funkia, yarrow, and iris are some good examples.
If you are planting on a slope, the surplus soil is thrown in a slight ridge to the back of the shrub area. The water will then be directed to the plants, and not wasted. Soil will also collect at this ridge over time, adding to it. This form of planting is called contour planting, and is designed to conserve moisture.
The number of barriers you will need depends on the steepness of the grad as well as the totally length of your slope. One band should be sufficient for an average lot of 140 feet deep, unless your grade is greater than 24 per cent. The bottom of the slop is treated depending on if it ends at the street or another property.
In the latter case, just adding another planting across the upper slope will do. If it meets a street or sidewalk, the most economical treatment is to add a hedge or row of shrubs. Place the hedge several feet back on the slope and plant the base with a ground cover.
This provided for double protection against the washing away of soil. Shrubs do not need to be expensive either, just choose those suitable to your region. Shrubs that are inexpensive and have a wide range include Chenault coralberry, snowberry, jetbead, shrub roses, barberry, spirea, and mockorange.
If your home has short banks, this can be a problem. These can be a cause of construction issues when a driveway was paved, or a path was cut in. You may be able to use some of them for rock gardening, others may need to be planted closely with a ground cover. If the issue is water, then other means may need to be taken, like conducting the water to an outlet.
To make a seashore house and garden livable, the landscaping will involve many issues not found in gardens 100 feet from the shore. Wind is a big issue, as it can dry up young buds, and stunts the plant. You can look for this by examining your tree or shrub for leaves that on one side, look like they were sheared. Salt spray will also drench your plants, which can harm many types of plants.
The moving of sand is another big issue. It is so fine, that is can be moved easily by the wind, and its scouring action can destroy plants. It can also collect on a porch or terrace, making dining difficult. The sand will get into your food, and can even get into your home. The easiest ways to get rid of sand is to build a wall or a solid fence around three sides of the property.
