5.3 Rock Gardens & Water Features Flashcards
open water - Formal Ponds
Open expanse of water
Often raised clean cut edges, dressed stone or brick
Geometric shape, rectangular, square circular
Central fountain feature, classical theme, statue spirting water
minimal plant life
open water - Informal Ponds
Open expanse of water
often classified as wildlife ponds to attract wide range of wildlife, mammals insects etc
irregular shape, serpentine, kidney shaped
softened margins with planting and rocks, stones
natural feel
different levels and shelves to allow for a range of aquatics plants
gentle slope to allow access for small animals
occasional water feature, such a cascading waterfall
open water - Rills
Small formal stream/canal
crisp edges dressed stone or concrete
may feed other larger water features
Self contained - Fountains
may trickle, cascade or spout natural stone, marble, cast from concrete glass, metal create movement focal point make noise so attract attention
formal fountains often statuary
informal such as millstone
Self contained - Pebble Ponds
self contained water feature, with a sump of water pumped up over a stack of smooth pebbles back down into the sump.
no expanse of water
no planting but can benefit small insect that can drink from the water
Natural Materials used for construction
Waterfeature
Puddled Clay - for traditional wildlife pond
Sand - to lay over the bottom of pond to prevent liner punctures
Timber - for pond surround
Natural Stone - can be used as boulder in an informal pond, or dressed and used as formal pond edge
Bamboo - Deer Scarer type fountain
Manmade Materials used for construction
Waterfeature
Butyl Rubber Liner - pond liner
Preformed Fibreglass shell
Preformed Resin Shell
Plastic - Polythene liner, PVC liner
Glass
Poured Concrete, Concrete blocks - for pond edge or poured as a pond liner
Engineering Bricks
Alpines
High Altitude above the tree line, very good drainage and cold but dry winters, usually covered with snow which is insulating.
High Light Level
Rock Plant
Dry areas searching roots adapted to minimise transpiration by reflective leaves, leaf hairs, rounded leaves dislike winter wet must have good drainage
Types of Rock Garden - Alpine House
a glass house with very good ventilation, ideal to keep plant suitably dry, though impractical for most people
Plants containerised and placed on or in sand bed
Types of Rock Garden - Rock Garden
Hard to achieve on a small scale but can offer perfect growing environment for many plants.
very sunny sloping sight with good drainage
avoid frost pockets
Remove weeds
excavate to a depth of 30cm and add hardcore to 15cm
top with soil and grit
bury larger ‘keystones’ 1/3 into the ground and build up smaller stones irregularly
leave to settle before planting up
top dress with stones or grit
water in
Materials, grit, stone, gravel Limestone, Sandstone, Granite (hard)
recycled stone, hypertufa, artificial rocks, pulhamite
Types of Rock Garden - Trough
Belfast sink, natural stone trough, artificial rock, hypertufa trough
add drainage holes
add layers of stones and grit
fill with loam based compost mix with horticultural grit 50:50
bed narrow rocks to plant between
plant and water in
top dress with stones or grit, same material as the rocks
Rock Garden Aftercare
Watering until establish but only in dry spells
monitor for pest and disease
careful hand weeding
trimming and pruning
winter protection, cloche, glass, cold frame
Pond planting
leave for a week after filling before planting
quarantine nursery bought plants for one week to prevent spreading weeds and P&D
Deep water plants moved gradually to final position (rest on bricks until long enough to reach bottom)
Marginal and deep water plants may be planted in baskets in aquatic compost topped with stone
Pond aftercare
Keep nutrients down to prevent algae build up
Add Barley Straw may help with algae build up
monitor pH and keep neutral
divide plants that have out grown the space
Remove autumn leaves as the fall
Add floating ball over winter to prevent ice build up
monitor oxygenators and part remove if they become too vigorous
