topic Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued in Garden

Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Lilysmom — Tue, 06 May 2014 15:47:32 GMT

We have uncovered this so far.

You will recall the grown over look with grass over the rocks, etc. We have exposed half the wall and done a couple of plantings.

Any comments or suggestions welcome.

PS ... tried to get the photo itself instead of the web address with no luck. Can someone do this for me? TIA.

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/Garden537/library/Rock%20wall%20May%202014

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Hoovermom — Tue, 06 May 2014 16:33:55 GMT

Slideshow

View as:

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Lilysmom — Tue, 06 May 2014 17:29:10 GMT

Thanks Hoovermom, makes discussion much easier! So far there are a couple of hostas in there, a few day lilies, red phlox, creeping jenny, red colored Hucheras, candy tuft and stonecrop sedum.

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Allegheny — Wed, 07 May 2014 02:45:57 GMT

You certainly have been busy!

I need to gaze at it longer, but I do like what you planted so far. Just curious can you expose more of the boulders?

I've noticed what beautiful weather you seem have in Nova Scotia. We are just (nervously) starting our planting season here in PA. What's your zone classification?

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Lilysmom — Wed, 07 May 2014 09:24:34 GMT

Hi Allegheny. We are a maritime (coastal) location. I am in Zone 5. Our area gets quite a bit of snow but not as much as inland areas. Just went through a bad winter like everyone else. On to the wall ... More of the rock will be exposed after our next rain. Some of it is moss covered and I will probably leave that alone. I have uncovered rock before only to find it created a pooling of water at the base. I am lining the back of the top for now with smaller rocks to define the planting space. Also doing the bottom so DH can seed for grass. The soil in this area is surprisingly rich. We have a lot of clay that needs to be amended. This area is sunny now but shady when trees are in full leaf. (Birch and Oak). I am thinking of planting a fetter bush and maybe hydrangea (the creeping kind recommended from my first post). My garden center also has some miniature evergreens so I will check them out. Any thoughts welcome.

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

ValuSkr — Wed, 07 May 2014 16:35:31 GMT

Your rock border looks like a wonderful opportunity. It's a large space to fill with plants. I'd consider using a perennial groundcover of sorts, like cranesbill or plumbago (ceratostigma plumbaginoides), and then accenting with woodland plants like ferns, heuchera, and tiarella. My sister has a similar rock pile garden and the plumbago does quite well, crawling into every nook and cranny. And its blue flowers in the late-summer and fall are electric.

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Lilysmom — Wed, 07 May 2014 18:36:05 GMT

Valueskr, thanks for the feedback. Happily, we have lots of ferns that grow naturally so I will have those for sure. Painted ferns do ok, not great here. We finished uncovering the rest of the area today. The second half will be in deep shade when the trees leaf out. I will try to post new photos and hope Hoovermom is around again to help me! I am off to check out your other recommendations as I am not familiar with them. Thanks again! LM

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Lilysmom — Wed, 07 May 2014 18:47:42 GMT

http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/Garden537/slideshow/Rock%20wall%202

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Lilysmom — Wed, 07 May 2014 18:58:23 GMT

It looks like cranesbill is not suited to zone 5 but the others look fine. I see that tiarella is available at one of our nurseries. Funny you should include geraniums. I just moved some from my front flower bed this morning. Also some sedum (Autumn Joy I think). LM

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

ValuSkr — Fri, 09 May 2014 02:59:14 GMT

Cranesbill is quite unlike geraniums, as we normally think of them. They're a nice groundcover. I think they'd be fine in Zone 5. Try one plant. If it survives the winter and you like it, then plant more.

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Hoovermom — Fri, 09 May 2014 03:14:53 GMT

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Hoovermom — Fri, 09 May 2014 03:16:35 GMT

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Hoovermom — Fri, 09 May 2014 03:16:49 GMT

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

pattypeep — Fri, 09 May 2014 03:18:40 GMT

Wow, everything is looking great. Congratulations. So much hard work, but the rewards are going to be plentiful ! Keep the pics coming, please.

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Lilysmom — Fri, 09 May 2014 09:12:48 GMT

Thanks Hoovermom!!! Valueskr, I must have looked at the wrong info on cranesbill. I will have that on my list for the nursery. We are expecting rain tomorrow. If that doesn't help expose the rocks, I will help it along. I am going to try to keep plantings between the rocks small ... Low profile so the rocks remain exposed. There is a good spot for a climbing hydrangea as well. Our winter here was a difficult one especially for Rhodos. All suggestions welcome. LM

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Emily Paige — Fri, 09 May 2014 09:56:49 GMT

Watch for snakes!

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Lilysmom — Fri, 09 May 2014 10:37:39 GMT

Emily, yikes! Will keep an eye out for sure.

Re: Rock Wall Discussion Continued

Lilysmom — Tue, 27 May 2014 22:02:17 GMT

Valueskr, I was at a nursery today and bought some Cranesbill. Thank you so much for this recommendation. The color is indeed very deep blue. The name of the flower I bought is Cranesbill geranium himalayense (g. Grandiflorum). It gets 14" high and 24" wide and is hardy to zone 2. Love the zone 2!!! I also picked up a couple of beautiful lime green ferns the like of which I haven't seen and these are zone 2 as well. The wall is much changed from above. It is almost full now. It is freezing here. We had frost last night right at zero. Will post photos soon. I want to give the plants a chance to leaf out a bit first. Thanks all for your help. LM