patandchickens
Deeply Rooted
I was just out there putting some rocks around for utilitarian purposes, and it reminded me, it's not NEARLY commonly-enough talked about in gardening books and such, so I thought I'd post this in case anyone else finds the technique as useful as I do.
Rocks are just great in the garden. Not only for decoration (borders, 'focal points', decorative contrast to adjacent plants, or of course yer actual Rock Garden) but also for FUNCTIONAL purposes.
Almost all plants (and especially newly-transplanted, heat-sensitive, or moisture-loving ones) will benefit from living under a rock. So to speak. Take a rock, brick- to toaster-sized, and put it right next to the plant's stem, on the W or SW side of the plant. For extra effect put down two rocks, one on the SW part of the root mass and one on the SE part. This will keep the root mass cool and more moist, and thus keep the plant much healthier and grow better.
I primarily use these rocks for newly-transplanted perennials and shrubs, but it is equally useful for any other plant you want to coddle a bit, including newly-set-out veg transplants early in the year.
For utilitarian purposes it doesn't even have to be attractive purty type rocks -- I use paver bricks and chunks of concrete rubble when I just want something temporary like for veg transplants or newly-put-in perennials, although I use nice rounded granite rocks from the back fencerow for locations where they'll stay more permanently, e.g. on clematis roots or on exposed shrubs in hot/dry locations.
Give it a try, it does more good than you might think
(Also, IMO any flowerbed wider than about 4' will benefit from some flat rocks strategically located to let you put a foot onto them when reaching in to weed, so that you KNOW you are not squooshing a plant or its root system.)
Good luck, have fun,
Pat
Rocks are just great in the garden. Not only for decoration (borders, 'focal points', decorative contrast to adjacent plants, or of course yer actual Rock Garden) but also for FUNCTIONAL purposes.
Almost all plants (and especially newly-transplanted, heat-sensitive, or moisture-loving ones) will benefit from living under a rock. So to speak. Take a rock, brick- to toaster-sized, and put it right next to the plant's stem, on the W or SW side of the plant. For extra effect put down two rocks, one on the SW part of the root mass and one on the SE part. This will keep the root mass cool and more moist, and thus keep the plant much healthier and grow better.
I primarily use these rocks for newly-transplanted perennials and shrubs, but it is equally useful for any other plant you want to coddle a bit, including newly-set-out veg transplants early in the year.
For utilitarian purposes it doesn't even have to be attractive purty type rocks -- I use paver bricks and chunks of concrete rubble when I just want something temporary like for veg transplants or newly-put-in perennials, although I use nice rounded granite rocks from the back fencerow for locations where they'll stay more permanently, e.g. on clematis roots or on exposed shrubs in hot/dry locations.
Give it a try, it does more good than you might think
(Also, IMO any flowerbed wider than about 4' will benefit from some flat rocks strategically located to let you put a foot onto them when reaching in to weed, so that you KNOW you are not squooshing a plant or its root system.)
Good luck, have fun,
Pat
