What to do if you have a rocky lot
Gardening can be a little tricky when the soil and lot you are sitting on is rocky. Don't feel bad though, there are several different places around the world that have to deal with rocky soil surfaces and gardens as well as flowers still manage to grow and live. Generally these rocky conditions occur if you're close to mountains or in other high ranges. It will just require you to prep your soil and garden area well before planting anything in it. Here's what to do if you have a rocky lot and still want to garden.
Preparing rocky soil
If you have a large garden or other area that you are needing soft soil the best and easiest way to prepare the area is by using a tractor that will drag the subsurface rocks across the bed and push them off to one side. For smaller beds where a tractor might be too large you can use a tiller. Make sure it's a good quality tiller however so that all the rock and debris don't damage the tiller. If you have larger stones that you can pull out by hand, considering keeping them for added décor in your garden area. Many people don't know that by placing small pebbles around a raised bed will help heat the soil in the early part of the year and will also help maintain some heat in the cool spring nights.
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How to grow in rocky soil
Growing in rocky soil can be somewhat of a challenge, but not completely hopeless. Here are some simple tips to growing in rocky soil:
- Tilling the area at least two or three times just to make sure it's ready to plant is the first thing you're going to want to do before actually planting.
- Look for some nutrient rich compost to lay down on the soil before you plant and after the rocks have been removed. Look around for local companies or famers that might be offering to sell it for cheap or you can choose to use leaves or other debris in your yard.
- Using sand in rocky soil is another way to get some good plants out of your garden. The sand helps with proper drainage of the roots; it will naturally soak up the water and keep the moisture inside the soil for a longer period of time after watering or after it rains.
- Make sure that you break up all the soil before you plant in the ground. This will help enable the roots to grow in different directions which could result in the plant not being able to sustain yourself. The nutrients are deep and so you want the roots to grow deep, not shallow.
- Using fertilizer in rocky soil can also be a little tricky. If you know someone that can help with it, it's a good idea to ask them. You don't want the chemicals to sit around the roots of the plants and with rocky soil it can sometimes do this. Natural compost should work in the beginning of the planting year, but you will need to add fertilizer as the gardening season gets into full bloom. Don't lose all your hard work because you think you know how to use fertilizer or don't want to ask anyone.
Even though you have rocky soil doesn't mean you have to count yourself out for planting flowers and growing a vegetable garden. Knowing how and what to do if you have a rocky lot just takes more preparation, time, and patience. Don't get frustrated with your efforts; be patient and see what time will do for you.
