DRY WALLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22723, 8 May 1937, Page 20 (Supplement)

DRY WALLS

Trailing or Tufted Plants

A DRY wall, planted with suitable trailing and tufted plants, greatly improves t'he appearance of the garden. This feature is especially suitable for sloping sections which are made all the more attractive by a series of levels or terraces, the banks of which are covered with walling stones. To prevent the wall sinking, provide a firm foundation by digging a trench •and filling it with rough stones before the building is commenced. Start with the largest stones. As each layer is set in position fill the spaces with soil

5-made firm by ramming. Care must be •i taken to leave as few hollow places as possible in which slugs and snails might harbour, is impossible for plants to > make satisfactory growth in a loose ' soil. As each layer is completed put V in the plants; the joints between the . stones are ideal places in which to put them. They should not be placed too closely together, as due allowance - must be, made for their future developTment. Neither should they be set at Iregular intervals or a uniform and artificial effect will be produced. Planting / while the building is in progress, produces the most satisfactory '..results, much better than trying to squeeze- the plants into after the structure is completed. With the latter method the roots are bruised , and broken,' whereas when building and -planting proceed together it is possible to spread out the roots and cover them carefully with soil. It is important to build the wall with a backward slope, or' batter, which adds strength to the wall and allows water to find its way , into the crevices. I