As there was a drop of about 1 foot between the patio and the lawn, it was decided to construct a scree area in the angle between the patio and the adjoining brick wall. Most of the proposed site got sun for much of the day, apart from the section nearest to the wall.

A soakaway had already been built under the far end of the scree area so drainage was already good, especially as the soil was a sandy loam over sandstone. Some of the stony subsoil was used to create the base of the mound, which was then covered with top soil (screened to eliminate perennial weeds). In a heavier soil, it would be wise to mix in sand or grit, to improve drainage.

Local sandstone rocks were then added, ensuring that the strata lines ran horizontally rather than vertically. The rocks were part-buried in the soil to give the impression that there were the tips of larger rocks beneath the ground. Once planting was finished, the bed was finished with a mulch of pea gravel and a scattering of rock fragments. Less vigorous plants were planted in troughs and pots around the edge of the bed, to prevent them being swamped by the strong growers.

For more information on alpine gardening, try Dr Hessayon's The Rock & Water Garden Expert

Plant List

Scree Bed: Armeria maritima, Geranium 'Bertie Crug', Helianthemum(right), Penstemon 'Blue Gem', Primula 'Wanda' (left), Pulsatilla rubra, Rhododendron 'The Wren', Rhododendron 'Blue Tit', Saponaria ocymoides, Sedum spureum, Silene schafta,

Alpine troughs and pots: Dianthus 'Pike's Pink', Geranium cinereum 'Ballerina' (left), Penstemon pinifolia, Saxifraga x arco-valleyi 'Labe', Wahlenbergia gloriosa