ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTAINANCE OF ROCKERY(ORNAMENTAL GARDENING)

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                                   ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTAINANCE OF ROCKERY

A rockery is intended to bring together in a limited space an idea of a mountain or alpine garden with plants growing in the crevices of rocks. The term ‘rockery’ in our country is associated with usually in shady tree, a large amount of earth heaped up under it with a number of bounders embedded in and jutting out of mount. A few plants mostly hardy ferns peep through the plants between the rocks. But essentially, a rock garden should have wide variety of plants, dwarf herbaceous perennials, hardy shrubs, ferns, colorful cacti and succulents.

A rockery should simulate natural rock formation with plants growing on them. The outlines should be rugged. The rockery should be an elevated structure with a few projecting work and winding path and if possible a shallow, irregular pool with water-loving plants, somewhere inside, all looking as natural as possible.


Establishment of rockery:

A rockery may be laid out in the open or under the shade of a well established tall growing tree. The contour of the intended rockery is marked out on the chosen site and good garden soil enriched with manure and leaf mould is heaped up to the required height and well firmed by moistening with water and beating with turf-beater. Rocks of irregular shapes are then fixed, sloping stones leaving pockets or spaces between the stones for accommodating plants. The spacing between the stones should be varied in size to suit growing in them single plants or clumps of plants and plants with large or small roots. In a high rockery with steep slope, terracing is advisable to prevent the wash-off the soil during rains.


Maintenance of rockery:

The after-care of a rockery consists of weeding, thinning out crowded clumps of plants, applying each season a top dressing of leaf mould or compost to pockets containing plants, regular watering in summer and rainless periods and frequent removal of dead leaves and shoots.


Example of plants used in rockery:

Dianthus, phlox, crossandra, dracaena, pilea, tradescantia, caladium, maranta, crinum, zephyranthes,  spathoglottis, epidendrum, agave, aloe, opuntia, bryophyllum, echinocactus.


 REFERENCE:

Introduction to horticulture 8th edition author N.Kumar

 

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