In a rock garden not only the typical plants have to grow. Herbs are also great. It all depends on the right choice of herbs.
Rock gardens are practical. You don't have to worry about lawns, don't create large beds and you don't have to pull weeds for the most part.
At the same time, rock gardens offer fresh planting options, because the soil conditions differ significantly from simple beds. However, you do not have to rely exclusively on bushes and plants that can cope with poor soil.
How about growing herbs directly in the rock garden?
» Optimal location for rock gardens
A good rock garden faces south or south-west and slopes slightly towards the sunny side. This rule applies especially to smaller rock gardens that you create in the middle of your usual garden. If you use a rock garden to green the front area of your house, you can of course only follow the rule to a limited extent.
It is important that water can drain off quickly. Because of this, a slight incline is perfect. The choice of stones used is always worth considering. Stones that store heat are particularly suitable. These include:
- Granite
- Limestone
- slate
- Bas alt
- Sandstone
Bear in mind that light-colored stones are more noticeable and require more work. Moss or verdigris quickly settle on larger stones.
Choose soil that is as nutritious as possible, even if you eventually fill the rock garden with gravel. Garden soil is usually sufficient for herbs. Spring is the best time to plant a rock garden for herbs. So you can nibble on your own herbs in summer. But you can also plant the herb garden in autumn and into October. This gives the selected plants enough time to grow before the first frost.
» Plant rock garden correctly
In the rock garden you can easily recreate the wild growth of many herbs. Unlike cultivated plants, herbs are stillWild plants with a frugal character.
Once laid out, you should green the rock garden as soon as possible. Weeds can no longer find a way. If you want your herbs to grow quickly, we recommend thyme. The herb can only form white flowers, but there are also varieties that have yellow patterned leaves. Thyme has the advantage of growing very quickly and forming a carpet on the stone floor.
Other herbs that are suitable for the rock garden are:
Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) - © Animaflora PicsStock / Stock.adobe.com
Hyssop (Hyssopus Officinalis) - © Valerie Ornstein / Stock.adobe.com
Sage (Salvia) - © Mark Herreid / Stock.adobe.com
Catnip (Nepeta Cataria) - © Michal / Stock.adobe.com
Curry herb (Helichrysum Italicum) - © Ralf / Stock.adobe.com
Savory (Satureja Hortensis) - © Robert1717 / Stock.adobe.com
Oregano (Origanum Vulgare) - © Marta Jonina / Stock.adobe.com
As a rule, all herbs that come from the Mediterranean regions or from barren mountain landscapes thrive well in the rock garden. You therefore have a large selection and can certainly mix perennial herbs with annual ones.
» Tip: If possible, plant herbs that are not hardy in the rock garden with the flower pot so that you can bring them indoors in autumn.