The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Rockweler Rockgardens

FERTILIZERS

For plants other than the true rock plants and alpines— such as garden perennials and annuals, shrubs, evergreens, and most bulbs—and also for such of the rock plants or alpines as take readily to a somewhat stronger diet, very often decayed manure and bone meal may well be added to the general soil mixtures suggested above. For evergreens, shrubs, or other plants which are to be set around the rock garden, by way of a background or setting, such conditions as are usually provided for them should, of course, be given.

Do not use any of the commercial fertilizers, except bone meal, and even with this great caution should be exercised.

Lime is not a fertilizer, but may occasionally be needed for the rock garden. If old lime rubbish, which is better for this purpose, is not to be had, ground limestone or gypsum may be used, to modify a soil otherwise too acid.

Aluminum sulphate, now offered by most seed houses, works in the opposite direction. This may be utilized either to neutralize a lime soil, or, by applying it in larger quantities, to make the soil acid-reacting. I prefer, however, acid leafmold, which is to be found in most sections if one will take a little trouble to hunt for it. Leafmold gathered under oak trees is sufficiently acid for most purposes, if decayed laurel leaves, conifer needles, or rhododendron leaves are not to be had.

TOP DRESSING FOR ROCK GARDEN PLANTS

Where plants gradually work themselves out of the soil, or are lifted out by frosts, or have their roots laid bare by heavy rains, they may be cared for by the application of a top dressing made of part sand,

1 part loam,
2 parts granulated peatmoss or leafmold.

This mixture should be run through a sieve so as to be light and fine and easily applied wherever it is needed. Excelsior also makes an excellent winter mulch for such plants, especially the first season after planting. It greatly modifies the direct action of sun and frost upon the soil surface, which sometimes causes young plants to "heave out" and at the same time does not pack down so much as leaves or straw, and permits a free circulation of air to keep the crowns and soil surface dry.