Alpine Help Needed

Hi We have just dug out the bed below our front bay which had been planted with a mass of different conifers in the [mistaken] belief that they were dwarf (previous owners). Needless to say they were simply slow growing and at least one (planted a mere 12 inches from the wall) tops out at around 30 feet!. We have now replaced the soil and the topping of cotswold [limestone] chippings. We bought new chippings and asked at the garden centre - "are these limestone as if they are we do not want them?" Assured that they were not limestone we bought them and spread them around the alpine plants newly bought. Having checked with the company that supplied the garden centre we now find to our horror that they are indeed limestone despite the assurance to the contrary.
What can we do other than dig them all out again?


PS - I have also posted this on the BBC board :confused:

 

I have limestone chippings in my alpine raised bed, I water the plants now and again with a sequestered iron tonic and also sprinkle sulphate of iron around them...they all seem to be thriving the only downside is the iron stains the chippings brown

 

Many thanks for the information. I had thougth that I needed to be lime free but it looks as if I was wrong. Glad I asked before digging the lot out again.

 

I think lime free is the best option for most alpines, but if you have used limestone chippings then neutralising them with gardening iron products helps the plants cope...it worked for me anyway

 

Steve, Is it not so, that some alpines actually like lime, some of the Saxifrages for example. :confused:

 

That would explain why one of my plants is thriving ....but also next to it is an Heather, which I bought at a knock down price as it had lost most of its leaves and was a poor specimen (I must have felt sorry for it ) that has all its leaves back and has put on a lot of growth too

 

Here's a pic of a small raised bed I made from a section of a box pallet, the heather is to the left partly behind the twirly grass stuff (not the technical name ) saxifraga in the middle, the various grasses seem to like it and the hardy geranium is thriving

 

I dont know much about alpines, only ever grown the easy types and then only a few, but I think as with most plants its best to sort out, which likes what.
Some like it dry in summer, some like it moist all year round, and some like acid conditions and some like alkaline.
Nice pic. Steve, whats that plant over by the fence? I think you'll have to move that Geranium.

 

Steve yes what's this by the fence ??..... not a thistle ? looks almost like it,or is it a big poppy plant lol

Ladybird

 

Thats a couple of cardoons that a neighbour grew from seed and gave me, I thought they might have shot up by now but they will prob take off next year

I agree on the geranium, I am sure I can use it as ground cover somewhere

I would like to have a go at the tall echiums next year...do you grow them from seed or buy plants?

 

I Thought they must be a plant, and not a weed :rolleyes: Cardoons get massive dont they?
As for the Echiums, I normally collect the selfsown seedlings and pot them up for a while.
If you send me your adress I'll see what I can find, seed is just ripening now.
So maybe I can send you a few small plants and some seed.

 

Thanks Pete,

sent you an email