4 May 2025
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Chris Collins shares advice for growing alpines in a small garden
Alpines are some of the most beautiful vegetation a nurseryman can grow . This group of plants flourish naturally in some of the most ambitious conditions , often at gamy altitude , in hapless soil and with extremes of spicy and cold . little in height , but hard in nature and adapted physiology , they ’re perfect for minor - blank balconies , back gardens and rooftops .
These beautiful plants can produce mini landscape , and one of the more traditional methods is in a sink garden . Enamel sinks are easily bought online or picked up at recycling centres , minus the plug . They can be transformed by a simple ‘ hypertufa ’ mixture of three part each of cement , peat - free compost and sharp backbone . If you ’re not keen on using cementum then there are plenty of eco - friendly substitutes such as Hempcrete and Ashcrete .
Use a pigment brush to coat the sink with some PVA glue . Once dry out this provides a ridged surface for your ‘ hypertufa ’ to stick to . Mix up your compost , sand and cement in a great bucket with some water and apply to the airfoil by hand , micturate sure you ’re wearing glove . Once dry , the sink is transformed into an veritable looking stone sink . For an extra touch , add a little seaweed extract to the admixture to encourage lichens to colonise .
The one affair alpines detest is slopped feet , so sharp , efficient drain is of the essence . For your substratum , mix in a decent peat - gratuitous compost with 30 % horticultural crushed rock . A top dress of crushed rock will also help keep any moisture away from the leaves , a self-aggrandising no - no for alpines . add together small rocks to enhance the heap scree bed effect .
If a sink garden is not for you , an upright recycled pallet , line and set up to a wall can also allow a decent setting for alpines . Or try a large trough with ticket or cast aside broken paving slab , one-half buried on their side and slightly apart , to create crack that alpines will flourish in .
A space as small as 1 m squared ( 3ftx3 ft ) will accommodate an alpine garden . They take little maintenance and supply the perfect resolution for busy gardeners . My last tip is to look closely at any alpines you grow . Each heyday has unbelievable point that can go unnoticed without right inspection .
Alpines growing between stone slabs in a garden feature
Small Space Q&A
Q. I ’m new to growing alpines , what would you commend ?
A. If you ’re just commence out , stick to the tougher characters such as saxifrages ( that often farm stunning flowers ) , creep thyme , sedums , dianthus , campanulas and graceful pasqueflower ( Pulsatilla ) .
Armeria in rock garden
Q. What are the good rockery flora for bee ?
A. There ’s slews of endearing alpines for bee . My front-runner include sea pink ( Armenia maritima ) , bugleweed ( Ajuga reptans ) , John Rock stand up ( Helianthemum sp ) , Mexican fleabane ( Erigeron karvinskianus ) , aubrieta , campanula and speedwell ( Veronica prostrata ) .
Q. I have an older kitchen sink – can I grow vegetables in it ?
White Saxifrage
A. A sink like this would be good for microgreens , peculiarly if it ’s in semi - shade , and they ’d also appreciate a sheltered balcony . Try pea plant shoots , or babe shekels and prickly-seeded spinach , or prefer for smaller herb such as creeping thyme , coriander plant and sweet basil .
