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Help with my new rockery

• Message 1.Ìý

  Posted by ju (U15136100) on Thursday, 9th February 2012

  I want to build a rockery on a fairly steep north facing slope with shallow chalk soil that gets limited sunlight. Any suggestions for the low growing plants that will thrive there? It is intended to be a low maintenance feature
  
  Thanks

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by marinelilium (U8293024) on Thursday, 9th February 2012

  Hi ju,
  
  Have you tried the rhs plant selector page? I think they have really improved it.
  
  It is able to offer 141 plants for a north facing, chalk, rockery but you can opt for lots of factors like max height, seasonal interest etc. To reduce option list.
  
  Fun to use just too. There must be a GMB poster with a chalk subsoil garden though.
  
  HELLOOOOOO....Anyone out there living on North or South Downs that can advice ju?
  
  MLx

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by chrisbucks (U14300604) on Thursday, 9th February 2012

  It's not the chalk that will be the problem, quite the contrary, but the lack of sunlight. By definition, most alpines grow at high altitudes above the tree-line, where there is no shade and the ultra-violet and sunlight are very strong. This is why, when they are grown at our sort of level, they just don't seem to have the same depth of colour.
  
  Try the Alpine Garden Society web-site,
  
  www.alpinegardensociety.net
  
  or just phone them, - 01386 554790 - they are very helpful with leaflets, lists of 'easy' plants, and advice
  
  (From a very satisfied AGS member)
  

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by rthorner (U1360306) on Monday, 20th February 2012

  Hello
  I can tell you what we have. Our garden is on very steep north facing slope, and part of it is rockery. We are on clay over limestone. The plants that really thrive are lamium (deadnettle, really pretty variegated groundcover); snow-in-summer (a real thug but grows anywhere and easy to pull out); miniature spring bulbs (tete-a-tete narcissus are just beautiful); aubretia (books say it needs sun but it thrives for us); primroses; miniature ferns of all sorts. We tried alpines but they were very unhappy in the lack of sun.
  Hope this helps!
  

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by ju (U15136100) on Tuesday, 6th March 2012

  Hi ju,
  
  Have you tried the rhs plant selector page? I think they have really improved it.
  
  It is able to offer 141 plants for a north facing, chalk, rockery but you can opt for lots of factors like max height, seasonal interest etc. To reduce option list.
  
  Fun to use just too. There must be a GMB poster with a chalk subsoil garden though.
  
  HELLOOOOOO....Anyone out there living on North or South Downs that can advice ju?
  
  ²Ñ³¢³æÌý thanks for this advice, have found it very helpful

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by ju (U15136100) on Tuesday, 6th March 2012

  Hello
  I can tell you what we have. Our garden is on very steep north facing slope, and part of it is rockery. We are on clay over limestone. The plants that really thrive are lamium (deadnettle, really pretty variegated groundcover); snow-in-summer (a real thug but grows anywhere and easy to pull out); miniature spring bulbs (tete-a-tete narcissus are just beautiful); aubretia (books say it needs sun but it thrives for us); primroses; miniature ferns of all sorts. We tried alpines but they were very unhappy in the lack of sun.
  Hope this helps!
  Ìý thank you for your help, will try some of these

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