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rock & water gardens
Hi folks,
I've built up very solid double brick retaining walls filled with steel-reinforced waterproof concrete, behind which is a 30cm wide layer of 20mm scoria surrounding 2 parallel aggy pipes for drainage. The scoria is wrapped with weedmat, and this is all to hold in some heavy-duty clay, which is as tough as concrete in summer and like quicksand in winter. It might sound like overengineering, but my workshop floor slab is 85cm higher than the house slab, but less than 3m from it. Between these walls and the surrounding fences, there is about 1 metre of soil in which I've planted a whole heap of tropical plants, such as Cocos Palms, tree ferns, Bouganvillea, Frangipanni amongst others. My question is, if I want to create a rock and water garden between the fence and the retaining wall (running parallel to both), would it be better to concrete around the plants so that I can embed cobblestones, slate and sandstone, or should I just lay down some very thick latex - cutting holes for the plants - then cover this with screenings and just sit the rocks on top? My preference is to do the former, as I quite like the look. However, I've been told that if I concrete around the plants, I'd never be able to dig them up, but my feeling is that if I leave "enough" of a space around each individual plant, I should be able to dig it up if it needs replacing. The way I see it, if I have to dig up a plant because it's dying, then chopping a rootball or hacking at a plant to remove it won't matter, and all I'll need to do is replace the soil below it, and add more fertilisers, etc. Any thoughts on the best way to get water running past these plants (with a little trickle going into them as well)? The water that goes into the aggy pipes will also be collected, filtered and pumped back up to the top again. Thanking you in advance for any words of wisdom, KC www.twistedirony.com |
#2
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rock & water gardens
"Litl Fish" wrote in message
... Hi folks, SNIP My question is, if I want to create a rock and water garden between the fence and the retaining wall (running parallel to both), would it be better to concrete around the plants so that I can embed cobblestones, slate and sandstone, or should I just lay down some very thick latex - cutting holes for the plants - then cover this with screenings and just sit the rocks on top? So you want a garden with rocks and a water feature? It's kinda hard to picture what you want. Sorry, but I'm hopless at picturing these things from straight tex :-) My preference is to do the former, as I quite like the look. However, I've been told that if I concrete around the plants, I'd never be able to dig them up, but my feeling is that if I leave "enough" of a space around each individual plant, I should be able to dig it up if it needs replacing. That wouldn't be your only problem. It would be hard to get the rootball outcompletely. But you have to look at roots possibly lifting or cracking the concrete. Also you have to take into account the water factor. Will the plants get enough water to the roots. I'm not just talking at the base of the plant, but as the roots spread. The way I see it, if I have to dig up a plant because it's dying, then chopping a rootball or hacking at a plant to remove it won't matter, and all I'll need to do is replace the soil below it, and add more fertilisers, etc. Good point. But a problem if the concrete is the reason for the plants dying. Any thoughts on the best way to get water running past these plants (with a little trickle going into them as well)? The water that goes into the aggy pipes will also be collected, filtered and pumped back up to the top again. Theres no reason why you couldn't concrete in a very little "river" lined with gravel or pebbles. The problem with allowing some of the water going to the plants is that it would probably end up overwatering them. Good drainage would avoid that, but water flowing through the soil will leach the nutrients out. Ok, so the water will circulate but then the water could get a salt/nutrient buildup in it. I hope this helps a little. IMO it could be more trouble than what it's worth. I stay away from the idea of concreting aound plants especially individual plants in a garden bed. Good luck with it. Thanking you in advance for any words of wisdom, KC www.twistedirony.com |
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