In the 1800’s, the ever-so-proper English gardener pirated stone watering troughs from poor animals and moved them (well, probably had strapping young lads move them) to the garden. Here, they planted miniature alpine landscapes that were placed in prominent viewing locations in the sunniest corners of their gardens. And thus was born the tradition of gardening in tiny microclimates created especially for the plants destined to live there.
Once these troughs were relocated, they tended to be left strictly alone! Filled with gritty, sandy, lean soil, the Victorians planted them with diminutive alpines, dwarf conifers and of course, mosses. Today, of course, new techniques have permitted artists, such as Sandy Thompson of Freeport, to create lightweight, porous and beautifully functional troughs. This means we no longer require the services of strapping young lads, I suppose.
Some of the favored Victorian perennials included, as you might expect, dianthus, edelweiss, certain alliums, arabis, armeria, some gentians, draba and lewisia. See below for additional options. These remain the stars of the trough.
Success with these plants comes from benign neglect, as overwatering and over-fertilizing will mean the death of them. Perfect drainage is critical and to ensure safety, many trough gardeners insist on a platform of some type to provide 1-2" of free space under the container.
And what else do we need to be successful? Proper soil, to begin.
In the trough, create a mix of soil that includes gravel, grit, coarse sand or other “stony” material. Do not add organic material. As stated, make sure the mix is free-draining. Before planting, we like to locate the trough in the sunniest corner we have. Then, choosing from a rather long list of eligible plants, we create a tapestry of foliages, as this is the feature you will enjoy for the longest period.
Despite the drought tolerance of these plants, we are careful to water them during extended rain-free periods. During the winter, the trough are upended so ice cannot form an impervious layer on top.
Because many alpines are spring-flowering, be sure to watch your troughs carefully in early spring as the magic begins!