The split gardens are currently fascinating landscape architects and home gardeners. Easy to build and worry, ideal for drought -tolerant plants and xeric landscapes and create a whole series of new and exciting planting opportunities. Colorado is just a look at the three huge gap plants in the steppe garden in the botanical gardens of Denver, Colorado, brave and fascinating examples of how exquisite this form of gardening can be.
A gap garden simulates natural rock formations and is an area in which slim stones are placed vertically, parallel to each other and a series of crevices and gorges. Filled with grains, sand and peat -free flash floor, they can then be planted with a variety of alpine, succulents and other rock garden plants.
A more easy to maintain than a rock garden in which weeds often takes over, a gap garden adds a contemporary drama with clear lines and wavy shapes. This is the perfect Sommer -Yard project that presents a completely new world of planting in miniature.
(Photo credit: Lisa Rome about Getty Images)
Start
Simply and entertaining to construct and even more fascinating for plants. A split garden can be tailored to your garden, your climate and location and offer the opportunity to expand your plant decisions.
“Once planted, your gap garden is slowly becoming a lively wall carpet made of textures, flowers and paint together-and the best of everything is almost self-supporting when it is once established,” says Tabar Gifford, representative of the gardener and gardens of masters and high countries.
How to create a gap garden – the DOS and DONGEN
(Photo credit: Getty Images/ Roberto Macado Noa)
The creation of a splitting garden is simple and also very rewarding. “These gardens are designed in such a way that they imitate rocky mountain environments in which plants thrive in narrow ground pockets between vertical rock faces,” explains Tabar.
Decide on the area you want to use and the scaling of the project accordingly. “The key is to imitate the natural look of stone cakes where hardy plants with minimal soil thrive,” she adds.
Draw the outline of your split garden with a sand line, a block ring or a sprayer marker like this from Amazon on the floor. In this way, you can visualize the end result, evaluate the proportions and make adjustments without any problems before starting a construction.
“Start with the design of a Bodenberm – a gently angry base that lifts the garden above the surrounding floor,” advises Tabar. 'In these berm, flat stones such as flagstone, slate or sandstone give vertically, fishing back slightly to create deep, narrow crevices between each plate. These columns become plant channels, perfectly for deep rooted, drought -tolerant plants. '
Take the time to lay every stone and make sure that you run in parallel and overlap each other to get a natural look. Tom also suggests: “It is best to be sunk with 2/3 underground. Rocks should also be large enough to create above -ground contours instead of being equipped with the floor. The best split gardens are again wavy and try to emulate a natural effect. '
Another upper tip is to vary the space between the rocks in order to create tight cervix and wider gaps. Todd Boland, President of the North American Rock Garden Society and Gartenbau, explains: “We try to simulate nature again where nothing is created. In the end, the floor has to be messed up well. A mixture of 3 parts rough, washed sand and 1 part upper floor is great. The floor should be carved tightly between the rocks so that the floor does not fall off unevenly. '
Check the floor that completely fills each gap without leaving air bags. If you carefully ram the floor mix into every crack and columns with the handle of the spade or the hand cellar, this can be helpful.
Good planting practices ensure that your gap garden has a flying start. Before you remove plants from your pots, train where you will go. In situ, arrange and as soon as you are satisfied with the arrangement, soak them in water, take off the pots and remove the roots.
Plant the same floor depth as any plant in your container. Fixed floor around the base and with grit or gravel above.
Which stone types to use
(Photo credit: RHS / Anthony Masi)
Stone choice is not just a question of aesthetics. Some rock types are naturally more suitable than others. “In general, sediment stones are used (sandstone, Schlickstein, slate, limestone), as they tend to break in flat angles instead of being chunky like magmatic rocks like granite,” explains Todd Boland.
“Spell garden rocks are usually flat on two sides, which enable them to place them in parallel and to simulate the layered effects of natural split gardens,” he continues.
How to put the stone
(Photo credit: Alamy/ Susan E. Degginger)
It is important to choose the direction to lay the stones, as this affects your plant selection and how well you thrive.
“When the rocks are laid out from the north to the south, it is ideal for alpine plants that prefer sunny conditions. The east side will have morning sun and the west side in the afternoon, Tom continues.
»When the rocks are laid from the west to the east, the south side is very hot and sunny, ideal for succulents and cacti, while the north side is largely shaded, ideal for small ferns and more forest countries. Make sure they are well anchored to prevent the pile. '
Essential kit to create a gap garden
(Credit: Alamy/ Aldegonde the account)
We recommend the following for the construction of your own split garden:
6ft (2 m) Rock Bar Light for maneuvering large boulders. Try this robust True Temch Pinch Point 66inches Crowbar from Amazon.com.
Spade – Choose one with high sides -like this Heavy Duty Square shovel from Walmart -to shovel loose sand and aggregate a breeze.
Trowel – A slim design like this from Walmart makes bad gaps easier.
Hand brush soft bristles – Use to clean grain and floor of stones
Flat stone slabs – limestone, flag stone, slate or sandstone are well suited for the formation of the upright columns
Lean, faster floor mixing: 50% good garden clay up to 50% coarse unit, such as large pearlites, crushed gravel or extended slate. Stone farm materials have a good selection.
Smoked gravel mulch – Use 3/8 inch angle gravel to obtain the planting channels. This helps to maintain the soil moisture near the roots and at the same time prevent putrefaction and weed growth.
A selection of small short systems; Including miniature alpine, sun -loving succulents, delicate ferns and forest plants. Try High Country Gardens and Wrightman Alpines for a broad and inspiring plant selection.
Todd is the gardener in the botanical garden of the Memorial University in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada. The biggest feature of the garden is our rock and split garden. He is currently president of the North American Rock Garden Society.
Tabar Gifford is a master gardener and “Plant Geek”. With a lifelong love for garden and nature and a background in environmental studies and sustainable community development, she combines horticulture expertise with commitment to education. Tarbar strives to enable individuals to achieve their gardener wishes and embodies a real passion for sharing their knowledge. You gardens in Zone 4 in Vermont.
Faqs
How can I make my split garden look best?
If you take the time and care to plan your gap garden, the final result has a major impact. Apart from the fact that stones run in one direction, it is worth holding back the materials and simply holding back.
“Stick to a kind of stone to achieve a natural, coherent look,” says Tabar Gifford. 'The slash The plates slightly back (especially in dry climate zones) the water helps into the root zone – a natural trick that is borrowed from mountain slopes. If you work in a more damp climate, put the stones to throw water away from the planting channels. '
If you now have a fascination for planting rock scapes and all juicy and alpine? Then take a look at how you can create a rock garden in a container – a brilliant small project for the whole family. If you are looking for more drought -tolerant plant and texture inspiration, you will definitely scroll through this report on the extraordinary Karoo succulent garden, which was recently shown on the Rhs Chelsea Flower Show 2025.