Dry stone walls can be used to terrace the garden or fortify a slope. However, building a dry stone wall is a garden project that takes a lot of time and patience. In fact, many people avoid this structure in their own garden precisely because it is a real challenge to build a wall without cement or other glue. Unprocessed natural stones are sorted by size and laid on top of each other in layers like puzzle pieces. These stable stone walls have a very beautiful natural character that harmonizes very well with the other garden plants. In addition to their visual impact, it is the wall planting that makes them an attractive design element in the garden. This is how you can transform a natural stone wall into a colorful sea of flowers. If you want to plant a dry stone wall, you first have to think about drought-tolerant and winter-hardy plants. Today we will give you useful tips for planting walls and some suggestions for attractively flowering rock and steppe plants that require little maintenance.
Why should you plant dry stone walls?
Although plants can thrive in a freestanding stone wall, retaining walls are better for planting because the earth connection to the rear provides moisture for plants. These are also easier to build because the ground behind them provides good support for the wall. This means the soil in the wall joints stays warmer in winter and cooler and wetter in summer.
When planting the drywall, make sure cushion-forming plants can cover a large portion of the wall. So don't put the plants too close together, otherwise they will be disturbedthe beauty of the stone looklose. Caution is still required for varieties that can spread very quickly and uncontrollably, such as the BubikopfSoleirolia soleirolii.
When is the best time for this?
Larger gaps, approximately two fingers wide, should be deliberately planned during the construction of the dry stone wall. Ideally from a height of 20 cm above the ground. Ideally, these earth joints should be in contact with the topsoil behind them to ensure sufficient root space. Planting is only more effective later due to the increased risk of damage to the plant roots.
The joints are filled approximately halfway with nutrient-poor plant substrate made from equal parts of plant soil and sand. The roots of a young plant are pulled apart slightly and placed in the crevices with the utmost care. Then add some more substrate above the bale, pressing it down lightly. Then the plants are watered well with a watering can. To prevent the substrate from being washed out of the joints, you can wedge the joints with smaller stones.
The faster the wall plants can gain a foothold in the masonry, the more drought-resistant they will be. Therefore, they should be watered more frequently in the first and second year until they root properly.
If you would like to subsequently plant your dry stone wall, the following options are available. You can either add another layer to the masonry or simply plant shallow-rooted plants such as succulents in the cracks in the wall. Planting should take place in the spring months. Both vertical and horizontal joints can be planted.
Basically, the plants are selected according to the following criteria: they should be hardy, drought-tolerant and still thrive well under extreme conditions. Sunlight plays an important role in this. While the shady dry stone walls are usually characterized by a modest mass of evergreen leaves, the sunny dry stone walls are characterized by a rich abundance of flowers. But that's not everything. You should also take into account the different areas of the dry stone wall. The base of the wall, side wall joints and the wall crown offer the plants very different microclimates. Therefore, the plants for the dry stone wall must be selected according to these specific requirements.
Plants fordieWall crown
It usually gets very hot in the wall top area and the water supply is also rather poor. Here, particularly hard-wearing, tightly upright growing species come into their own in combination with low perennials and hanging plants that hang down from the top of the wall over the wall. Upholstery perennials in particular have a hanging character. Such cushion-forming plants store moisture and at the same time protect against massive temperature fluctuations.
Drought-resistant dwarf and small shrubs stand out as individual specimens on the top of the wall. These include various types of gorse and daphne, as wellSparrow bushessuch as Spiraea chamaedryfolia.
Other suitable ones Plants for the wall crown:
- Steintäschel-Sorten (Aethionema grandiflorum, Aethionema armenum, Aethionema schistosum)
- Different Steinkraut-Arten (Alyssum montanenum, Alyssum wulfenianum, Alyssum rockatile compactum)
- Gänsekresse-Arten (Arabis alpina, Arabis aubrietoides, Arabis blepharophylla)
- Blaukissen-Arten (Aubrieta tauricola, Aubrieta x cultorum)
- Felsenblümchen-Sorten (Draba aizoides, Draba bruniifolia, Draba fladnizensis, Draba rigida var. bryoides, Draba sibirica, Draba siliquosa ssp. carinthiaca)
- Büschelglocke-Arten (Edraianthus dalmaticus, Edraianthus graminifolius ssp. graminifolius, Edraianthus dwarf, Edraianthus tenuifolius)
Planting for thelateralWall area
The deeper cracks in the wall are wetter than the top of the wall. The plants for this area must have good rooting properties and be able to cling easily over cracks and joints. Here too, the planting must be selected according to the weather and the intensity of the sun. Hanging plants on the side walls also protect against extreme cooling of the earth in winter.
What is suitable forthe base of the wall?
Half-height or flat-growing, sturdy plants that grow no higher than 5 centimeters thrive best on the side of the wall. Beautiful and long-lasting varieties for this extreme location include: star moss, thyme coccineus, heath carnation, ice plant Delosperma, goose cress, silverwort, saxifrage.
The 5 most popularDrywall plants
The classic wall plants usually bloom in yellow, pink-red, blue-violet and white. The peak of the flowering period is clearly in May and June.
Greek blue cushion (Aubrieta deltoidea)
As a cushion perennial, the blue cushion requires little care. The plant is perennial and has good frost hardiness. The blue cushion likes to be in the sun, but does not tolerate wet feet. This is why it is best suited for the top of the wall or the side wall joints. The beautiful purple flowers bring a lot of joy from April to May. During the flowering period, the dry stone wall can completely disappear under the pretty flowers. The blue cushion comes into its own in groups with stonecrop and carpet phlox. Can be planted on dry stone walls from March to October.
Scharfer Mauerpfeffer (Fetthenne, Sedum acre, S. spurium)
The hot stonecrop has a carpet-like growth and is ideal for places on rocks and walls. The plant spreads rapidly and forms bright yellow carpets of flowers. Blooms in June – July. Thrives very well in nutrient-poor dry soil. The water-storing leaves help the plant survive dry periods without any problems.
The numerous houseleek species (Sempervivum)
When it comes to planting for rock gardens or dry stone walls, the Sempervivum varieties are always a great choice. These thick-leaved plants can get by with very little water and soil and can be found in all colors and shapes. Housewursts like it sunny.
Polster-Phlox (Phlox subulata)
The cushion phlox is an excellent perennial plant for sunny wall crowns. This creates decorative, bright accents in wall joints. The cushion flame flower is particularly popular because of its abundance of flowers. The plant forms dense carpets that cover the dry stone wall with its cascades of flowers. Phlox subulata blooms from April to June and can also be beautifully combined with other spring bloomers. The dense foliage is evergreen and is frost hardy.
Pfennigkraut (Lysimachia nummularia)
The pennywort is an excellent ground cover that grows into 10 cm high, dense carpets. It spreads via stolons and rhizomes. The flowering period begins in May and ends in late July. The green carpet is then decorated with bright yellow flowers. The pennywort thrives best in moist soil in partial shade. Pruning in autumn is recommended.
Dry stone walls can be in both sun and shade. Wall joint plants on well-sunned sites often offer an abundance of flowers that are fun to see even from a distance.
Suitable plant species for sun
- Gypsophila (Gypsophila paniculata 'Viette's Dwarf', G. repens)
- Felsen-Steinkraut (Aurinia saxatilis)
- Bellflower (Campanula isophylla)
- Wimpernfarn (Woodsia obtusa)
- Evergreen candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)
- Catnip (Nepeta X faassenii)
- Alpen-Akelei (Aquilegia alpina)
- Hens and chicks (Echeveria 'Imbricata')
- 'Hidcote Blue' Lavendel (Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote')
- Feder-Nelke (Dianthus plumarius)
- Caucasian goose cress (Arabis caucasica)
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus')
- Filziges Hornkraut (Cerastium tomentosum)
- Aethionema 'Warley Rose'
- Yellow sunflower (Helianthemum nummularium)
- Thyme (Thymus herb-barona, T. praecox, T. pseudolanuginosus)
Plant dry stone walls in the shade
The sunny location is the classic application for dry stone walls and offers a significantly greater species potential. However, there are a number of attractive wall plants that thrive in the shade.
- Bubikopf (Soleirolia soleirolii)
- Gunderman (Glechoma hederacea)
- Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana, C. portenschlagiana)
- Alpen-Akelei (Aquilegia alpina)
- Dach-Hauswurz (Forever roofs)
- Primula (Primula X polyantha, P. involucrata)
- Bald herb (Herniaria glabra)
- Porzellanblümchen (Shady Saxifraga)
- Streifenfarn (Asplenium trichomanes)
- Hirschzungenfarn (Phyllitis sclopendrium)
- Corydalis (Corydalis)
- Leinkraut (Lunaria)
- Zimbelkraut (Cymbalaria muralis)
