Here are a few ideas to keep your rockery in top condition.

Clean up the plants by nipping the dead heads off.

Spreading perennials like aubrietia and arabis will benefit from a haircut with a pair of scissors.

Hand weed the beds to prevent annuals or perennial grasses from taking hold.

Replenish the gravel around the plants to retain moisture.

If you have some plants that are dying in the middle then put some gritty compost in the bare centres. This will encourage the outer portions to root into it. You can then dig these up and replant them in the bed.

Top up grit mulches around alpine plants to provide a free-draining layer between the foliage and the ground.

Some alpines will need a haircut if they look as though they are going to go mouldy in the damp weather.

Weed out any unwanted plants, especially creeping buttercup as they can completely ruin the bed in a very short space of time.

If you are feeling adventurous then try collecting seeds from alpines and perennials to grow in your own garden.

Some of the seeds need nature to take care of them so put them in a pot, label them and put them in a sheltered spot away from slugs.

Some might germinate quickly but others need a frosting before they appear.

Alpine plants are one of the easiest plants to grow from cuttings. If you see any plants you like the look of then cut off a couple of small pieces of stem with a node on it and push it into compost. Be careful if you try this in garden centres or parks as you could get arrested for stealing. Stick to friends’ gardens!

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