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Rocky soil a problem?

13 years ago

I just lost a large tree so now have a large garden area that was hosta friendly turned into a mainly a full sun bed. I am thinking about planting some conifers but was concerned it might be too alkaline as the site is very rocky (lots of limestone rock like you would see in a driveway all over that area). There must have been part of a road or driveway there years ago.

I plan to enrich the soil with lots of leaves, composted horse manure (over 5 years and a lovely black color) and pine needles that are composting.

It is very well drained soil now but I think with soil improvements it will be a nice bed. It measures about 30 feet by 17 feet now.

Anyone have any ideas on what be nice there for conifers?

What do you all think?

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Comments (3)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
13 years ago
Tough to guess on pH and only a soil test would tell for sure. Dax is growing a myriad of conifers in soil with a pH of 7.0 so it's likely more a matter of do you want several small ones, a few mediums, one or two larger or a mix of all of the above. And then there is color...and shapes...and...

A picture of the area might help as well.

tj
gardener365
13 years ago
I could only recommend you use seedlings of Picea omorika - Picea orientalis - Pinus aristata - Picea engelmannii - Pinus flexilis.

If you want to grow dwarf and miniature conifers - they will need to be grafted to the above seedlings for rootstocks. This will require that you have plants, custom-grafted. Gee Farms I know will custom graft. You'd also be best-suited to stick with these conifer species of dwarf and miniature, too. So you will want, Pinus flexilis cultivars grafted onto Pinus flexilis or Pinus aristata (or vice-versa) and all the Picea's (spruce) grafted to one of the species, mentioned. Also, add Pinus heldreichii (leucodermis) to your selection(s). Pinus heldreichii/leucodermis is a 2-needled pine and is different from aristata or flexilis so all Pinus heldreichii will need to be grafted to the root systems/rootstocks of Pinus heldreichii, only.

Maybe I'll think of some more options. While my own soil is 7.0, it has no gravel (your ph might be much more). Get yourself a 5 or 10 dollar ph tester and see what the meter reads. I think you should do that first. The good thing about your gravel is that is provides the ideal conditions that the Rocky Mountain conifers, want:
Pinus flexilis
Pinus aristata
Picea engelmannii

I'll read about Abies lasiocarpa as that well could be another addition to your plantings.

Dax
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gardener365
13 years ago
Picea pungens - I forgot. You should have all your Picea's/Spruces grafted to this. A very common grafting rootstock.

Abies lasiocarpa likes gravely sites but the ph they prefer is 6.8 or less. The last thing you could do is use either Alfalfa meal or pelleted Sulphur each spring, while monitering ph to keep it at where you need it. A ph of 7.0 or lower will accomodate most conifers.

Good luck!

Dax

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