I am considering installing a minimal maintenance, full sun garden that will not require constant seasonal mulching. Could you suggest a few basic details on gravel gardens?
Gravel gardens are an excellent choice for small-space gardens. Perfect for the gardener who wants to highlight specimens, collections or for minimal maintenance. The first step is selecting the garden site. A full sun, open site will perform best. Once the area is selected, remove the top 5-6 inches of soil and replace with gravel. Use granite chips, pea gravel or ¼ inch quartzite as the planting medium. Larger gravel will allow weed seeds to find a space to grow. The smaller gravel minimizes this, resulting in less maintenance.
Bulbs, drought-tolerant, and deep-rooted plants are best for gravel gardens. Each will require minimal soil and water. When planting, push aside some of the gravel, water the hole, remove the soil from the roots of the seedling and plant using the gravel as soil. This way of planting urges the plant roots to go down into the earth for water and nutrients.
As our climate evolves, gravel gardens are trending. The plant selection for a gravel garden is growing in the world of horticulture. Consider using xeric (drought-tolerant) plants such as Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and assorted grasses. Some of the plants we are familiar with do quite well in a gravel garden. Coneflowers (Echinacea), native quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) and Coreopsis lanceolate are commonly found in most garden centers. Alliums, daffodils, specialty bulbs and garden art are great additions to add seasonality as well as interest to the garden. Maintenance involves cutting back in early spring and checking for unwanted plants. A gravel foundation makes weeding easy.
I understand this is the year of the container garden. How many containers are too many? What is the best practice for maintenance throughout the season?
Small-space gardens are the perfect setting for a potted garden. Using odd numbers of containers, such as three or five, makes a statement depending on the space. Each container should have plants with similar water and sunlight requirements. The right size pot is important. Here is a basic pot to plant ratio:
10-12-inch pot – 3-4 plants
14-16-inch pot – 5-7 plants
18 inches or larger usually accommodates more plants, shrubs and small trees.
Larger containers are easier to maintain and require less watering. Consider the mature size of the selected plant material and desired effect. Reading the plant label will provide this information.
Xeric potted plants are easier to maintain, especially with the changing weather. Try a diverse selection of ornamental grasses or sedum in pots. Sedum is in the succulent family and holds moisture in the leaves. Mid-height sedum cultivars are great used as a filler with an underplanting of purslane trailing over the side. Ornamental grasses make quite a statement and add height to a potted plant composition. Covering the soil of any potted plant with mulch will hold moisture where it is needed.
Decide on one to two days a week to check on the containers. Using your index finger, check the soil. If the top 1-2 inches is moist, there is no need to water. Unless there are temperature extremes, once a week deep watering is sufficient for most container plants. Fertilize annuals monthly during the growing season. Using a garden journal makes this easy to remember.
Join us if you want to learn more about gardening or spend time with people who like plants. For more information, go to the Capitol Hill Garden Club website at www.capitolhillgardenclub.org.
