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(even though the greenhouse isn't actually completely down yet lol)
I have a logpile, now as there are concrete blocks that aren't going to be removed, I'd like a mossy rock pile! We have a few mossy rocks in the garden but I think all of these are currently in use so I'll have to start from scratch but I wouldn't have thought it would take too long as there is a lot of moss in our garden. But just in case, is there anything I need to do to speed up the mossing process? And are there any Britrish plants that stick to rocks? I know bromeliads grow on rocks but they aren't anywhere near native and I'm pretty sure none of them could survive in the Scottish climate anyway so I was wondering if there were any British plants that would work? The rock pile will be about 2 foot by 1 foot (and there is two of them as there are two concrete blocks). Since I don't think there is much that can be done with the concrete blocks and it would take a big drill to get them out they will be staying. Alternatively, does anyone have any other suggestions on what can be done with the great big concrete blocks? Does moss grow on any rocks or are some better than others? I have lots of moss in the bottom of the garden, could I just transplqant some of this onto the rocks to speed things up? And does anyone think I am mad trying to "grow" moss??? lol
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
Hi Kat,
re plants, i'm not sure that anything truly grows on rocks, but if you can fill every nook and cranny (however small) with soil and then either plant rockplants or their seeds, you should get a lovely display that will cover and soften all the angles and corners. Do be slective with your rock plants though, there are some real thugs out there! They all tend to love good drainage, so should love your rock pile.
Hope that gives you an angle to start exploring...
DM
Always happy to stop and stare...
I don't need to grow moss - it's everywhere, including places I don't want it! LOL. However, my tortoise house is built from concrete blocks and concrete bricks - and gets no moss at all on it, despite being adjacent to, and touching, the log roll that form the enclosure boundary. Weird.
I have no idea why!
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
DM, thugs ?? i have a plant like that called mind your own business grows everywhere and a blinking pest might be ok in a wild rockery though
Hi Chavfinch,
chavfinch said: DM, thugs ?? i have a plant like that called mind your own business grows everywhere and a blinking pest might be ok in a wild rockery though
japanese knotweed now theres a thug ....lol
Haha it's like the world Wrestling of plants in here!
Thanks for the tips everyone! The cement blocks are pretty unsightly hence the rock pile idea as it should be fairly beneficial to wildlife providing nooks and crannies for invertebrates to hide in, maybe a couple of bigger spaces too. Never know, I might get toads visiting the garden that will need somewhere to hide! What small rockery plants would be suitable if I added in some compost between the rocks? Might even try a fern at the bottom pile as it is pretty shady there. I'll probably need two different groups of plants, the bottom concrete block is more shady (and I suspect will be damper) than the block at the top so it can probably be two slightly different rock habitats.
I know how to get lichens to grow on concrete, but I'm not so sure about moss, for lichens you paint either yoghurt or watered down manure on it and eventually lichens will follow. Sometimes you have to keep doing it. A bit stinky, but it works, the poo is best, apparently. I've done both and have got lichens like crotal (sp? - that nice earthy yellow one) to grow. Another ruse, we went to a reclamation yard and bought, very cheaply, some old mossy rocks that had been piled in a corner, forgotten and had blackberries growing over them, you could see if you can find some of those and disguise the concrete, pop some soil between them and grow mind your own business if it's damp there, creeping thyme and other creeping things (creeping Jenny can be pretty). If you go the creeping thyme route you'll need some sharp sand and gravel in with the soil. Alysum can be nice between rocks too. There's lots of gorgeous alpines that like rocky places - depends on the conditions really.Hope that heps. Best, Kezsmum
Hi Kat Tai,
If you want the moss to grow then the rocks really need to be permanently damp which will really speed it up.
As for plants the one that springs to mind especially if it is shady and damp is the Hart's Tongue Fern....
http://www.google.co.uk/images?q=hart's+tongue+fern&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&sa=X&ei=VQpkTYXuFcK18QOfjuzxCA&ved=0CFU
In fact a damp shady spot ill allow you to grow variety of ferns as you would in a stumpery?
Just an idea....hope this helps?
Toadflax is a small creeping plant for cracks in rocks they have tiny snap dragon flowers
I used to grow a tiny mint that had micro leaves and even smaller purple flowers it used to grow like a mound of moss.
Both the above would prefer damp shady site.
For a drier sunny site there are some fine creeping Thymes.
These were grown between the paving leading to the alpine garden when I was into such things :-)
Chris S.
A very old Shropshire Lad.
Unknown said: Toadflax is a small creeping plant for cracks in rocks they have tiny snap dragon flowers I used to grow a tiny mint that had micro leaves and even smaller purple flowers it used to grow like a mound of moss.