Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Rock and plants
I was recently asked by a homeowner if she could plant hydrangeas in the river rock that borders her home. The quick answer is no. But I did ask her want sun/shade conditions she had. Okay… she said sun. That leaves more questions. Is it morning or afternoon? She said from 1pm to 7pm. Yikes, that’s a LOT of heat. Most plants will fry in those conditions because that rock heats up and holds the heat, something the roots don’t dig! If you catch my drift. PS, rock “mulch” comes in a variety of sizes.
So what CAN she plant since the rock isn’t going anywhere right now? I suggested sedums. For one thing they are amazingly tolerant of hot/dry conditions AND there are a lot of options.
Rock is my least favorite thing to use if you want to plant plants!
If you’re creating a rock bed that looks like a creek, oh that’s lovely and border it with groundcovers. Or use it like the photo below! The PLANTS are mulched with cocoa beans or wood mulch. You need to replenish it but the benefits are worth it.
You CAN use container plantings if you want decorative rock around your home as you can see in one of the photos above.
I have removed so much rock through the years and still, I find more when I dig!!
When is rock a plus?
- If you have drainage issues on your property, rock is a great choice as it allows water to drain quickly.
- If you have open bed areas without plants, rock is an easy, no maintenance option. Rocks are great for high-traffic areas, where pedestrians tend to take short cuts. Trampled plants look terrible, but rocks stand up to the stress.
- If you’re considering a fountain or statue rocks make a great backdrop.
- And/or you’re a no-nonsense property manager who wants to mulch then forget it, rock is your thing.
Please send me your comments, questions and suggestions for future ‘Bites! If you’re asking about a plant, I urge you to offer as much information about the conditions in which they will be growing or you want them to grow. tkgardenbite@gmail.com or on Facebook too!