The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
American Rock Gardens
They could scarcely be inserted later with a spade. Immediate effects are thus possible; and with care in watering through the first summer and a peat mulch the first winter, the accent and taller plantings can be in location in advance. In the crevices of the cliffs the planting is best put in while the cliff is being constructed.
FIG. 6.—ROOT SYSTEM OF ALPINES
The major part of the planting should be done several months after construction. Of tough sorts (see list D in Chapter VI), small pieces may be planted with a little trowel in April, and with luck these will be good plants by midsummer and will give normal bloom the next year. But the first year of a rock plant is better in a special nursery. The start may be from seed, as Primrose (mostly obtained abroad); from cuttings, as Dianthus, first rooted in sand from a parent plant from a nursery or other garden; or from divisions, as Sedum, pulled from a large plant. (See lists I, J, K in Chapter VI). Seedlings, rooted cuttings, or divisions should each be finally potted in small pots not over 2" across and set closely in a cold frame. This should be done in early summer while construction is going on, and growth under this treatment will be better than in the newly finished rock garden. After a winter under a blanket of dry leaves in the frame each plant may be set directly in place and will start at once into bloom and growth, surviving all weather. These pot plants may be purchased from dealers, but there will be saving of time, if not in labor, if many of these may be produced by the owner, to be set out whenever wanted.
The third possibility is the sowing of seeds directly in place in spring, particularly in the tiny crevices, and after the plants have all been set out, choosing seeds of rock plants of easy germination. In a favorable season there may be good results, but often only the most weedy ones survive. Of expensive seeds better results will be assured by the previous method, and the sureto-grow are really too certain to self sow and become weeds of little value. Examples are Silene drummondii, Alyssum incanutn, Silene viridiflora, and Lotus tenuis. They are no better than Chickweed and Shepherd's Purse, though offered as good rock plants. A very sad experiment is the sowing of seed of easy small annuals for immediate effect the first year. After the first year they will be present for many years; and pulling out Portulaca, Sweet Alyssum, and Catchfly for many seasons is a punishment greater than the crime.
