Rock Plantings

The idea of planting trees on or over rocks has come from nature herself in the picture of a gnarled pine clinging to the protection of an outcropping of rock, or of a small, twisted tree growing on a cliff face.

In rock plantings, the tree can either be planted in or on the rock itself, or it can be trained over
the rock, with the roots buried in the soil of the container.

Rocks used for such plantings should be fairly hard, since soft rocks tend to rot after prolonged
exposure to the elements. They should not be too smooth, and should be pitted with plenty of
small crevices and small pockets where the roots can grab hold. Rocks with a saddle-shaped
depression or a large, deep pocket are ideal for planting directly onto the rock. Just make sure
that the drainage is correct, as if the water doesnﾁt run off and instead pools in the pocket, the
roots could rot; while if the water runs off straight away, the tree would get no moisture.
Relatively small trees with small leaves, such as Cotoneaster are ideal for planting on rock.