Gardening Unplugged - Berm Construction with Rocks w/ Jeremy Schmidt

[@dawns3057]

This has been very helpful as I'm adding a short retaining wall to an existing berm. I'm using rocks from my property that are a bit smaller than what you used and was concerned about the gaps. I'm going to use your idea to use the gaps as pockets to display and protect small plants. I now get to go plant shopping!!! Yay!

[@Berrith]

Thank you!

[@jcseiji]

Interesting videio. But to my frame of reference it looks like the rocks are just for ornamental effect rather than contributing to the substrate. My take on building a berm or rock type garden is to use loose arrangements of boulders and assorted rocks and pour a gravelly soil over them and then add additional layers of rocks to shape out the shape of the garden desired and as you do so modify the soil to be less gravelly as you get to the final surface layer where the soil becomes a debris field of large rocks and or boulders sticking out with assorted scattered pebbles mixed in with compost, dried up leaves, dead stems, pine needles, etc Into this habitat can be planted appropriate plants that will represent the effect you are looking to achieve. Plus you can micro-manage planting spots to suit plants that prefer a higher drainage while other spots lower drainage to even mucky. Hope I painted the scene successfully!! Forgot to mention sub-irrigation can be installed as you go.

[@ronsmith1364]

Mixing deficient soil with sufficient soil too much sense. Got P, Got K good to go. Nitrogen is transient and annual supplements are needed for most beds. great talk & tips. Any precautions when using reclaimed concrete vs stone?

[@Plantdelights]

We recommend following all OSHA safety guidelines when handling, cutting or breaking concrete as the dust can be dangerous. We also advise avoiding reclaimed concrete containing reinforcing fiberglass, an occasional component of recent concrete pours. We felt it could irritate skin after our initial shaping and crevice garden placement.

[@littlemissy8356]

There is basically nothing to stop the soil from eroding out between the rocks.