***Rock filled flower beds, or rock flower gardens, have become quite popular in recent years. They make for a lovely decorative feature to the property and they make for a fun hobby. Most plants that do well in a flower rock garden are easy to grow and require very little maintenance. The plants that thrive do so because they tolerate the reflected heat from the rock.



Herbs grow well in rock filled flower beds. Some popular herbs grown in these gardens include: Thyme, Rosemary, and Lavender. They require the soil to be well drained or they can wilt and die. Below is a list of a number of popular flowers that grow well in a rock filled flower bed.



Rock Rose: The Red Rose is one shrub that grows well in rock bed gardens. This plant is a small shrub and the flowers have a saucer shape and are a deep red color. These flowers bloom in the late spring and summer. The leaves are grayish/green and are fairly narrow.



Aster: The Asters, particularly the Alpine Aster are popular rock bed flowers. They bloom in the late summer and fall. The flowers are produced in large clusters and come in a variety of colors that include: pink, red, white, lavender, and purple. They grow as bushy clumps so it is important to create enough space when planting. They can grow in a wide variety of climates. Depending on the temperature, germination can take from 15 to 30 days.



Japanese Barberry: This flower grows well in a rock garden. Small and spiny, it blooms in the spring and has reddish/purple leaves which change to red and orange in the fall. The flowers are a light yellow and then produce small red fruits. These flowers do not do well in really cold climates.



Alpine Columbine: The colors of the flowers of the Alpine Columbine are violet and white and the leaves are bluish-green. As well, these flowers come in a wide variety of hybrid colors and strains. These hardy plants grow well in a variety of climates. They bloom from early May through to June. It is a popular choice for a rock bed garden as they attract hummingbirds.



Primrose: The Primrose blooms early in the spring and comes in a wide variety of colors. They prefer cooler temperatures and do not like the direct sun for long periods of time in the hot summer months. There are a broad variety of Primroses.



Carpet Bugle: The most common color of the Carpet Bugle bloom is bluish-purple, but there also flowers that can be white or rose. It serves as helpful ground cover in a garden. The color of the foliage can range from green to bronze to purple. They bloom from early spring to mid July. It is a great plant to help reduce soil erosion. They survive well during droughts.



Rock filled flower beds are a lovely addition to any home. The key to maintaining a flourishing flower garden is to know what flowers will thrive in the environment and what care is required to keep them healthy and in bloom.-

***If you enjoy gardening there is no better hobby. You can while away many an hour in the outdoors working the earth, sowing seeds and watching as your garden grows and changes throughout the seasons. If you have a new home garden which is little more than a plot of rectangular land in the yard you should think about adding garden fencing or a garden wall to create charm and character. It will define your garden space and give you a sense of security and ownership.

If you are building a wall you can make it simple or plan it out and create a wall that is more involved. On a limited budget you can look at building a wall yourself with flat flagstones. To do this dig a six inch trench around the garden, then take large flat stones to create the base of the wall. Medium sized stones can be used then to make the main body of the wall and smaller stones can be used to fill in any cracks and crevices. This not only creates a stunning finish but can make a natural border.

Another stunning way to define the garden is to use garden fencing. You’ll find a wide range of choices and designs to choose from and they can be great for putting up around both vegetable and flower gardens. Garden fencing is usually found in metal or wood and you’ll find something to suit your own tastes and make your garden feel unique and individual to you. Again there are simple designs or more ornate and elaborate styles. They are easily assembled and you can put them up easily yourself.

Whether you choose to build a wall or erect garden fencing the results can be stunning offering privacy and protection to your garden.

Siddall & Hilton Products Ltd are experts in the manufacture of unfinished fencing panels, temporary fencing panels, industrial mesh and many other wire products.-