For a wheel about 2.4m/8ft in diameter:
2 wooden pegs
string
spade
garden compost (soil mix) or rotted manure
fertilizer
heavy, metal circular cover 64 bricks
about 3 alpine plants with a 30cm/lft spread per section gravel
large pebbles and slates for decoration
There is something very appealing about alpines. The wonderfully varied texture of their foliage is punctuated in the spring with the most delicate-looking flowers. They are not difficult to look after, and will eventually spread to create a rich tapestry. This wheel makes a more original home for alpines than the typical rock garden, and would be more appropriate for a formal garden. Make the wheel as small or as large as you like, and calculate the number of plants you will need by checking the extent of their eventual spread.
Use decorative beach pebbles and pieces of slate to add textural interest to the newly planted wheel. The alpines will gradually spread over the gravel, virtually filling the sections.
