Farm Landscaping for Rocky Terrain
Something that needs to be taken into account when deciding how to landscape and decorate the farm is the terrain. We have a very dry and rocky terrain, and so it makes sense to use that to our advantage!
above credit https://assets.pinterest.com/ext/embed.html?id=26247610322336964
For about the first year or two of living here, I was confounded. I had lived in the Bay Area for the majority of my life and so I was used to that terrain and environment. We got the ocean breeze and the morning fog, things stayed moist for the most part, and most plants thrived in the environment. In stark contrast, we experience quit the opposite in our new home. The air is very dry, and we have a lot of wind but it isn’t cool and refreshing. On the contrary, the wind can be brutal and disregards the feelings for everything in it’s path. (Including, but not limited to, the barn roof that is fashioned of sheet metal!) It’s taken a good while, and losing quite a few plants, but I think we’ve finally figured out what will work for us, and what won’t.
There is both large and small rock mixed in with our soil, and this makes for both pro’s and con’s with regards to landscaping and gardening. While some plants don’t mind the rocky soil and will thrive, others die off quickly. The rocky soil, mixed with rain makes it difficult for the soil to hold onto water for long. However, one of the upsides to the rock is that we…have rocks! So let’s take into consideration some of the benefits of the rocks.
The rocks can be sifted from the soil and set aside for projects like laying paths, allowing drainage for potted plants, filling holes that animals dig up (and there are lots of those with over 80 animals on the property). As well, the large rocks that are palm-size or larger can be used for projects like gabions, fire pits, borders along garden areas, building walls, grottos, waterfalls, or french drains.
Many of the ideas above also allow for wonderful conditions for growing plants that are native, and also for succulents and other plants that grow well in dry and rocky conditions.
One thing that I’m planning on doing fairly soon is making a sifter so that I can separate out rocks and set them aside for some of these projects. A cheap way of making one of the frame type sifters is to head to a second hand store where you can often find larger picture frames for pretty inexpensive. It can be cheaper than going and buying wood from a hardware store, and often you don’t have to do much other than add a piece of hardware cloth with some nails or a staple gun. You can lay it over the top of a container, or wheel barrel.
What I used to consider a huge downside to the soil we have has now become something that I know I can work with given the right conditions and with a little amending to achieve some goals. I’ve come to be accepting of the fact that it’s simply not going to be the same growing plants and landscaping here in this region, even though we are still in the same state! California land varies widely be region. I just had to consider this differently as opposed to it being a downfall. All things can be worked with. Stretching my options outside my box and comfort zone to make good things happen and grow in knowledge.
Have you ever moved to a new place and had to consider a whole new way of growing things? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
