Rock Gardening

The Rockery, also known as the Memorial Cairn, is an unusual war memorial designed by the noted American landscaper Frederick Law Olmsted.

Concept and History

It is located at the center of North Easton Center In Easton, MA, where it forms the focal point for two adjacent H. H. Richardson buildings with their own Olmsted landscapes.

In 1838, at Hoole House, Lady Boughton established one of the first rockery gardens in England 

Later in 1875 Ellen Willmott developed a large garden including rockery and gorge at her family home of Warley Place in Essex

Categories of Rockeries

The following main categories Rockeries exist in landscape gardening:

1- Alpine Rockery: 

Such rockery is traditionally an alpine garden where quite

small alpine plants with delicate foliage and flowers are

used

Design consideration:

1-Site must be in full sun light

Rock should be of natural look

Rock should not overwhelm by plants

Plants like snow-in-summer,  Draba  and, of course, the Edelweiss

2- Succulent Rockery:

Predominantly in this type succulents plants are used with

in rock combination.

Design consideration:

Site must be in full sun light

Soil should be well drained

Plants like Low-growing sedum, hens and chicks varied texture and color foliage in pinks, reds, yellows and white are used

3- Woodland Rockery

Wood land rockery  normally developed in shady  area

Design consideration:

Site must be in shade or under canopy of big deciduous tree

Soil should be well drained

Plants like spring bulbs, ephemeral plants, Daffodils, shooting star or the white-flowered bunchberry are used

Mix these with ferns and the small-leaved evergreen ground cover for enhanced beauty

Design consideration

1- layout of Plot

Plan rock garden on paper with all detail so that you will be able to identify and resolve problems before you move heavy rocks

2- Location

A-Sunny location is the best as plants require several hours daily of full

B- Shaded location  prefered for natural setting of rocks and plants in a wooded area.

3- Merging of elements:

Introduce some visually unifying element into your rockery- either by selecting rocks that all come from one geographic region or rocks that are all the same size or shape.

4- Land shape

Establish the rockery on a sloped part of landscape to produce the most versatile arrangements.

5- Rock pattern

No hard fast role, use the pattern of your choice View the setup from the angles and distances and alter the rocks' positions until you achieve the look you want.

6-Depth of the rock

Bury 1/3 of the majority of rocks in the earth to  increase the overall stability and to create a natural looking environment. also sit some rock on the surface for the purpose of balance.

7- Supply of soil

Spread 4 to 5 inches of fertile soil in the rock area.

8- Placement of plants

Place plants among the rocks.

Arrange plants that need more thorough drainage at the top of the slope.

Incorporate plants that prefer moister conditions at the base of the slope.

Place fragrant plants near the edges of the rockery where you will have the best chance of catching their aroma when you visit your rockery.

9- Fragrant plants

Place fragrant plants near the edges of the rockery where you will have the best chance of catching their aroma when you visit your rockery.

Maintenance of Rockeries

Routine maintenance is essential for rockery, it does not  call for skill or heavy work, just needs consistent care  and monitoring to promote new growth and control weeds.

Few points to be noted:

Treat rock garden care as a routine weekly job

Keep the area free from weeds, dead plants and debris

Water only when necessary

Trim back unwanted growth

Remove fallen leaves and rampant plants be cut back

Cover winter-sensitive plants

In spring renew mulch, feed, and remove winter protection.

Invasive plants must be checked and removed.