HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-05-07, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7,1997
<Home & Garden 19971
Incorporate those rocky spots into your landscape
snow coverage in the winter.
1 T
Ur >
——
Digging in
Once the design has been select
ed, rocks gathered and site chosen,
the work of preparing the garden
begins.
On a dry day, strip the sod, and
determine if the soil is heavy clay,
poorly-drained or full of perennial
roots.
Peat and sand should be mixed
with clay soil to lighten it and
improve drainage. Very few alpine
or rock garden plants will thrive in
wet soils.
An adequate slope will also
improve drainage for heavy soils.
It is recommended that all old
perennial roots be removed from
the bed as they will cause recurrent
problems.
The heaviest work comes with
the moving and positioning of the
rocks. If the lawn is unfinished
large equipment is the best method.
However, with seeded or mature
lawns, simply placing rollers under
a board will aid in the transport of
stones.
Wheelbarrows are not recom
mended for this task as the single
wheel pivot point allows for easy
tipping of an awkward load.
Large rocks may be used wherev
er possible and placing them at the
same angle will create a natural
look. Sloping them backwards into
the garden will also allow water to
run off onto the plants instead of
onto rocks in front of them. Any
cracks in the rocks, as can be found
in sedimentary stone, should be
placed in the same direction.
As in the wild, rocks should be
buried one third to one half of their
height. A few at ground level is
acceptable.
Once soil has been packed
securely around each rock, stand on
it to ensure solid placement with no
rocking or movement.
Selecting plants
The final stage is where the back
breaking work is over and the fun
begins. The selection of plants is a
personal choice, but should be mid-
to low-growing floras which will
look natural in a rock garden.
A variety of textures, colours,
leaf sizes and shapes will add inter
est to the bed. Consideration should
be given to the time of flowering to
ensure blooms throughout the sea
son. Green foliage will add depth
and contrast to the bursting colours.
Now, sit back and enjoy the
“natural” creation.
Colour advice on exterior design
Natural setting
Using rocks which are already part of the landscape or
creating a rocky setting can add a natural beauty to any
yard.
As those living in Huron County
will know, rocks can be a problem
when considering landscaping.
Whether the rock is large or
small, it must be dealt with, either
by moving it, burying it or one of
the most creative ways is to incor
porate it into the design.
A sizeable rock can be used as a
comerstone for an entire bed or an
object to build the garden around,
allowing it to melt into the jumble
of tall blossoms.
At its best, a rock garden should
be a tranquil place with a touch of
order. Whatever the decision when
using stone in the flowerbed, the
overall look should be natural, as
though Mother Nature had a hand
in it.
One key to a natural-looking rock
garden is to have greenery sprout
ing from the cracks and crevices,
surprising the viewer with each
turn. Remember the rocky outcrops
along a Northern Ontario highway
or through the mountains in the
eastern United States.
Though there may be a sentimen
tal appeal to using rocks gathered
from family trips to the beach,
mountains and along country trails,
it is best to use one type of rock,
preferably of local origin, to keep a
natural, cohesive appearance.
The search begins
In developing a garden which
blends with the native surround
ings, begin by looking at others in
the area. Seek advice from other
rock garden enthusiasts through
stone and other pre-determined
colours also need to be considered.
Select a colour scheme which
blends and enhances these colours
- study combinations to see which
colours and groups of colours will
best show off these natural textures.
The style, size, site and shape of
the home should be considered as
well.
colours you're
" suggests
Grub time
Continued from page 23
control.
The best time to look for
European chafer grubs is in late
summer to early fall before they
have done all their damage.
memberships in horticultural soci
eties.
Check books both at the book
store and library for ideas and sug
gestions which will fit the setting.
Once the information has been
gathered, finding the perfect site for
the rock garden is next on the agen
da. A sloped location is the most
attractive and if the yard is level,
create an incline.
The setting can be built up with
soil and the creation of different
levels adds to the eye appeal.
Aside from a slope there are
other criteria which add to the natu
ral feel and help in the development
of a long-lasting, healthy garden.
Pre-existing shrubs or trees
establish a background for the gar
den and increase the look of long
establishment.
It is also best the garden be
unshaded for the better part of the
day, protected from north winds
and in an area which receives good
Colour remains the single largest
motivator for decorating and with
spring in bloom, now is the perfect
time to create an exterior
masterpiece of colour and beauty
for your home. Colour Design
Consultant, Barbara Richardson,
offers some advice on exterior
home design and how to best
complement and balance the
colours of your home with the
flowers and shrubbery in a garden.
"Choose
comfortable with,
Richardson. "Decide the end result
that you want and then plan
accordingly. Study your home's
exterior features, as well as
literature, to discover the variety of
colour that appeals to you as you
create the perfect exterior
masterpiece for your own home."
Richardson recommends co
ordinating the colour of outdoor
flowers and shrubs with the colour
of the home, thus creating a
complete and thoughtful colour
concept which will enhance your
home's overall appearance.
For example, if the home has
light yellow or cream coloured
siding, select flowers in shades of
white, cream, soft, gold, lavender
and purple. Or, if there is a very
dark stain, brick or paint colour on
the body of the home, use either
darker shades in landscaping to
blend the home into nature, or use
whites and light greens to frame the
house.
The colour of the roof, brick,
"Don’t forget your neighbours'
homes," adds Richardson. "Their
colours should be considered
before selecting your colour
scheme — light and medium colours
should be used next to dark
colours, warm colours next to cool
A
Great Selection for
Mother's Day!!!
Ccddtudf
Construction
loi*es."
If your home is very large and
you want to create a sophisticated
colour scheme that blends with the
trees which surround it, consider
colours that are medium to dark
tones. If the home is in a warm
climate, choose colours that are
lighter and reflect the sun's heat.
Accessories also add a great deal
to a home. Brass door plates,
interesting lamps to the sides of
doors and landscape lighting all
play an important role in a home's
design. Adding decorative chairs to
porches and baskets of ornamental
flowers will show your interest in
stylish living.
SPtRSWpSC
• Box plants
• Perennials
• Mixed Pots
• Hanging Bags
• Hanging Baskets
Closed
Sundays
Van Amersfoort's
Mon. - Sat.
9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
570 Queen St., Blyth
523-4202
Instant Landscaping.
Choose your own trees from our
25 acres of growing fields...
MAPLE, ASH, OAK, HONEY LOCUST, LINDEN BIRCH
and more...to 25* tall
SPRUCE & PINE...to 15* tall
Lots of Varieties, Sizes and Prices for every budget
• Residential & Agricultural Structures
• Framing • Siding
• Drywall • Roofing
Renovations • Decks
Free Estimates & Prints
Let the experts at Maitland
Manor Nursery help you
"Make Something
Beautiful Happen"
= ‘ ‘
R.R. #3 Blyth (519) 523-9354
Maitland Manor Nursery
and Landscaping
Gift Certificates Available
East of Bluevale on Hwy. 86 (51#) 335.324O
Professional Custom Landscape Design & Installation
EARLY SPRING SPECIALS 10-12' MAPLES s25°°