RE: Sempervivums

Louise,

Can you build the bed/soil UP, literally, with some rocks or something?
Making it a raised bed?

Susan Saxton, zone 6b

For mine is a little old-fashioned garden where the flowers come
together to praise the Lord and teach all who look upon them to do
likewise.
Celia Thaxter

I AM in shape.  ROUND is a shape!


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Louise [l*@the-english-family.freeserve.co.uk]
> Sent: Friday, July 23, 1999 9:04 AM
> To: perennials@mallorn.com
> Subject: Re: Sempervivums
> 
> 
> 
> Most of my front garden is concrete (shame, I know, but it's
> the only place to park the car).  Separating us from our
> neighbours is a strip of earth 9-12 inches wide, 8-9 feet
> long.  We've lived here a long time and only kept the weeds
> down - I did at one time think of putting some plants in,
> but when I investigated I discovered the soil was only 2-3
> inches deep, hitting concrete just below that.  Anyway,
> during the winter I decided to grow some Houseleeks
> (sempervivums) because they're happy to be shallow rooted.
> So I've grown some seeds and the seedlings have thrived and
> will be ready to plant out sometime soon.  The soil there is
> completely lacking in nutrients, baked hard as concrete in
> this dry summer (I'll give it a good soak before planting).
> We intend putting plastic on top of the soil to stop weeds
> and some sort of gravel on top to make it look pretty.  Can
> somebody help me on this?  Do you think I should replace the
> soil completely for something more nutritious, add compost
> to what's there, add grit to what's there or just leave it
> as it is?  I know Houseleeks don't need much in the way of
> soil.  I love seeing them on roofs - when we were at
> Christopher Lloyd's garden at Great Dixter in the spring,
> there's an ancient roof that sweeps down to almost ground
> level with some Houseleeks growing on it - there was no soil
> there at all.  Anyway, if anyone can come up with
> suggestions of what might be best to do, I would be very
> grateful.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Louise, southern England
> 
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