Good afternoon, my reader. A well-groomed suburban area is a source of pride for its owner. The pile of huge boulders goes beyond the usual order for everyone. But it is this very structure, called an "alpine slide", that can become the envy of all neighbors.
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Rock garden construction: where to start
Despite the fact that the alpine slide is a design element, it would be a mistake to believe that only beautiful, smooth stones are suitable for it. In fact, the rougher the boulders look, the more natural they will look in the future composition. Smooth cobblestones are more appropriate near artificial reservoirs, and the following breeds are better suited for a rock garden:
- tuff;
- limestone;
- slate;
- sandstone;
- granite.
To make the composition look natural, it is composed of 2-3 different rocks. In addition, it is better to maintain the height of the structure within the range of 50-80 cm. For this, boulders are folded in tiers, sprinkling them with soil.
Selection of plants
Alpine plants: compact deciduous and coniferous shrubs, unpretentious ground cover and herbaceous perennials may not be at hand. You can replace them with any squat vegetation up to 50-60 cm high. It is advisable to choose unpretentious crops that are not devoid of decorativeness.
For the north side of the slides are suitable:
- tenacious;
- rejuvenated;
- periwinkle;
- fern;
- feather grass;
- badan, etc.
For the southern slope - light-loving plants:
- lavender;
- Adonis;
- barberry;
- iris;
- muscari, etc.
The "Alpine Ensemble" will organically complement the evergreen dwarf shrubs: herbal erika, pachisandra, spirea, gault, heather.
Seat selection
It is best to place the future alpine slide in an open area with good lighting. It is undesirable to place the composition near fences or some buildings. With its help, you can decorate a rest area or highlight an entrance group.
Creating a composition
Having marked the outline of the future slide on the ground, they begin to prepare a base for it, removing the top layer of soil for this. It is desirable that the depth of the "pit" be at least 30 cm - this will ensure the stability of the structure.
If the recess is made in heavy soil, then you need to cover the base of the rock garden with a drainage layer of broken brick or gravel. The drainage is covered with a layer of sand (10-15 cm) and filled with water for strength. With loose soil, drainage can be dispensed with. While the foundation is settling, they begin to prepare a soil mixture from turf, humus, compost and sand.
The creation of a rock garden begins with the laying of the largest stones around the perimeter of the "pit". In this case, it is necessary to achieve maximum stability of the boulders. To do this, they are fixed with small stones or sand and soil are added. The central part of the composition is covered with prepared soil and the stones for the second tier are immediately laid out.
So, layer by layer, they form a slide, while leaving horizontal "pockets" for planting. The finished structure is watered and left for 2-3 weeks to shrink the soil. Plants are planted starting from the top of the rock garden.
An alpine slide is not a simple decor element; this structure requires a creative approach. The efforts made will not be wasted, even if the first experience is not very successful.
Have you tried to create a rock garden?
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