Spoonstones are often used to fortify embankments. But they don't look very attractive naked. Below we will explain to you how to plant your spoon stones step by step and which plants are suitable for this.
Which plants are suitable for planting spoonstones?
Cushion-forming, low plants with shallow roots that tolerate drought are suitable for planting spoon stones. Popular options include blue cushion, goose cress, common thrush, chickweed, hanging bluebell, carpet hornwort, basket of gold, alpine liver balm, blood cranesbill and carpet gypsophila.
Build a slope fortification step by step and plant the spoon stones
1. Create foundation
Even a “wall” made of spoon stones needs a foundation so that it doesn’t sink. To do this, dig a trench that is 80cm deep and about 20cm wide and half fill it with gravel or gravel as a drainage layer. A drainage pipe is laid in the gravel layer on the slope side. The other half of the trench will be filled with concrete. A vertical drainage layer should be laid between the spoonstones and the slope so that the water is directed into the ground.
2. Setting spoon stones
After the foundation has dried out, the bottom row of spoon stones is now placed. You should definitely have a spirit level (€8.00 on Amazon) at hand to ensure horizontal alignment.
Then the spoon stones are filled with good garden soil and the area between the spoon stones and the slope is filled with gravel. Then the second row of spoon stones is placed a few centimeters back on the bottom row. Fill this row with good soil and fill the drainage layer before continuing with the third row (if necessary).
3. Plant spoonstones
Once all the spoonstones have been placed and filled with soil, it's time to plant.
The most beautiful plants for spoonstone planting
Cushion-forming, low plants that can cope with drought and form shallow roots are suitable for planting spoon stones. Here are the top 10 blooming beauties for spoonstones:
| Name | Flower color | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Blue pillow | flowers bluish-violet | needs a lot of sun |
| 2. Goose cress | white, delicate flowers, evergreen | needs sun |
| 3. Grass cloves | available in different colors | for sunny locations |
| 4. Chickweed | white | sunny |
| 5. Hanging Cushion Bellflower | white or bluish | sunny locations |
| 6. Carpet Hornwort | white, silvery leaves | sunny |
| 7. Gold basket | golden yellow flowers | sunny |
| 8. Alpine Liver Balm: | pink | needs sun |
| 9. Blood Cranesbill | pink red | sunny, can also cope with partial shade |
| 10. Carpet Gypsophila | white | sunny |
Almost all of the spoonstone plants mentioned above need a lot of sun to thrive. Significantly fewer plants are suitable for spoonstones on the north side, for example:
- Gold droplets (blooms yellow)
- Creeping spindle (beautiful leaf color)
- Wall Cinnamon (blooms delicately purple)
- Porcelain flower (blooms delicate pink)
- Vinca minor (flowers purple)
