Got Rocks.....
- Thread starter Junkman
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hennydamule
Silver Member
Nice job Junkman, hopefully you'll have some really nice quartz veins in that ledge rock when it clears.
I've got a recipe for growing moss if you ever want to speed up the "aging" process on the rock.
I've got a recipe for growing moss if you ever want to speed up the "aging" process on the rock.
I sure can use any help that I can get. Please post the recipe for moss growing here. That way, I won't loose it and others might also benefit from it. This all started out as a small project because the wife wanted some flower crab apple trees along the side of the road. Once they were planted, they looked out of place with all the pines and hemlocks in the back round. What we did find when removing a lot of the hemlock trees, is that they were already diseased and dying. I tried to keep as many of the oaks as possible, but the land had been logged before we purchased it and all of the big ones were gone... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
JayC
Veteran Member
Those were some pretty big rocks! I see you had a supervisor with you in a couple of those pics. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Looks like that loader may be lifting more than it is supposed to be capable of. I'm impressed...
Then again...knowing the poster...could be that it is hollow inside or a prop from the local film company... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )</font>
That is a true rock. I was able to get it into the bucket, but it wouldn't raise. Luckily, when I scooped it, there was a few inches under the bucket already. As I was traveling down the road, I tried to lift it and to my amazement, the bucket started to come up. I got it up a few more inches, but didn't want to go flying over the steering wheel if gravity took over. The excavator that was being used had a 56" bucket and some of the rocks would barely fit into it. There was one that was so large, that we just decided that it will stay where it was place a couple of thousand years ago. Most, if not all of the rocks in the picture, probably outweigh the BX. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Then again...knowing the poster...could be that it is hollow inside or a prop from the local film company... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )</font>
That is a true rock. I was able to get it into the bucket, but it wouldn't raise. Luckily, when I scooped it, there was a few inches under the bucket already. As I was traveling down the road, I tried to lift it and to my amazement, the bucket started to come up. I got it up a few more inches, but didn't want to go flying over the steering wheel if gravity took over. The excavator that was being used had a 56" bucket and some of the rocks would barely fit into it. There was one that was so large, that we just decided that it will stay where it was place a couple of thousand years ago. Most, if not all of the rocks in the picture, probably outweigh the BX. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
hennydamule
Silver Member
It's a pretty simple recipe, but it's at home, so I'll post tonight or tomorrow.
Love the Stonehenge rock pic.!!! Hope to have a sundial like that in my yard some day. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Love the Stonehenge rock pic.!!! Hope to have a sundial like that in my yard some day. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
BillG_in_TX
Veteran Member
Mogombus
Bronze Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It's a pretty simple recipe)</font>
Here in the NW we just let something sit outside for a couple months during our wet season (from Jan 1-Dec 31) and it's guaranteed to have moss growing on it!
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Here in the NW we just let something sit outside for a couple months during our wet season (from Jan 1-Dec 31) and it's guaranteed to have moss growing on it!
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Egon
Epic Contributor
But TEXAS is different. Thems just Mountains most places.
Egon
Egon
v8dave
Platinum Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Nice job Junkman, hopefully you'll have some really nice quartz veins in that ledge rock when it clears.
I've got a recipe for growing moss if you ever want to speed up the "aging" process on the rock. )</font>
I'd like the recipe for growing moss. I've got this 110' rock retaining wall that needs more moss.
I've got a recipe for growing moss if you ever want to speed up the "aging" process on the rock. )</font>
I'd like the recipe for growing moss. I've got this 110' rock retaining wall that needs more moss.
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Egon
Epic Contributor
Want to grow moss? Add humidity and lots of rain.
Have you thought of flower types that would grow among the rocks and add lots of colour.
Egon
Have you thought of flower types that would grow among the rocks and add lots of colour.
Egon
Egon....... I am "cultivated challenged". I don't know what flowers when and what is hardy enough to survive without being watered on a regular basis. There is a lot of clay in our soil, so I intend to top dress with loam. I am thinking of planting Black Eye Susan and White Daisey along the top. I am also going to transplant a bunch of Mountain Laurel to the top also, so it will have some green in there. If you or any one else would like to help with suggestions, I would appreciate it greatly. I have twisted wrenches so long, that my thumb is black, not green. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The only thing that I have learned much about is Iris and Day Lillie's. Neither require much care and both flower. I would love to have flowers throughout the entire growing season, but just don't know what to plant.
Mogombus
Bronze Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'd like the recipe for growing moss. I've got this 110' rock retaining wall that needs more moss.)</font>
I hear spreading yogurt on your wall would do the trick. I don't know which flavors would work best /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif and you'd have to do it when no rain was in the immediate forcast.
I hear spreading yogurt on your wall would do the trick. I don't know which flavors would work best /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif and you'd have to do it when no rain was in the immediate forcast.
hennydamule
Silver Member
Here it is, told you it was simple...
1. Put a handful of the moss you want to grow into a blender. Just go into the woods and grab a bunch of moss that you like the look of. I don't bother with the garden center stuff, like some suggest.
2. Add 1/2 tsp. sugar and one can of beer (the cheapest brand). You can substitute buttermilk for beer if you want, or try a combination.
3. Blend just long enough to mix the ingredients and break down the moss.
4. Spread the soupy mixture with a spatula or paintbrush over the ground or rocks where you want the moss to grow.
Tips/Hints:
Remove as much dirt from the moss as you can before you start.
Once you've spread the moss mixture, don't over wet it or you will wash the mixture away.
Every now and then spray some dilute beer gently over the area.
Works best in areas that don't receive a lot of direct sunlight, in other words, places where you'd normally find moss.
My best experience was when I used a skunked keg left over from a New Years Eve party. I just wheeled it around and sprayed the rocks... worked great. I'd post pics, but unfortunately it was at my old house. When I get the retaining wall done that I'm currently building, I'll be sure to post updates on the projects board.
Lichens, unfortunately, take a lot longer to grow. So long, in fact, that some are used to date stone walls.
Good luck all, and happy growing. I'll post a list of good rock plants, and shade tolerant plants later, I'm off to teach about snakes now. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
1. Put a handful of the moss you want to grow into a blender. Just go into the woods and grab a bunch of moss that you like the look of. I don't bother with the garden center stuff, like some suggest.
2. Add 1/2 tsp. sugar and one can of beer (the cheapest brand). You can substitute buttermilk for beer if you want, or try a combination.
3. Blend just long enough to mix the ingredients and break down the moss.
4. Spread the soupy mixture with a spatula or paintbrush over the ground or rocks where you want the moss to grow.
Tips/Hints:
Remove as much dirt from the moss as you can before you start.
Once you've spread the moss mixture, don't over wet it or you will wash the mixture away.
Every now and then spray some dilute beer gently over the area.
Works best in areas that don't receive a lot of direct sunlight, in other words, places where you'd normally find moss.
My best experience was when I used a skunked keg left over from a New Years Eve party. I just wheeled it around and sprayed the rocks... worked great. I'd post pics, but unfortunately it was at my old house. When I get the retaining wall done that I'm currently building, I'll be sure to post updates on the projects board.
Lichens, unfortunately, take a lot longer to grow. So long, in fact, that some are used to date stone walls.
Good luck all, and happy growing. I'll post a list of good rock plants, and shade tolerant plants later, I'm off to teach about snakes now. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Yankee
Gold Member
It all makes sense but the beer. I would think the alcohol would be a problem. What does the beer do? Unless, in saying "add a can of beer" you meant to the person running the blender!
hennydamule
Silver Member
Wish I could tell you why it works, but it's not my recipe. Maybe it has something to do with pH, since I believe that alcohol is acidic, and I know I've been told to put lime, a base, down to kill moss. This is just conjecture, however. Besides, there really isn't very much alcohol in beer. From my personal experience, the more stale the beer, the better. Again, don't know why. Had one heck of a moss garden at the old house though. There's actually a moss farm down the road from where I live now, called Sticks and Stone Farm, http://www.sticksandstonesfarm.com/
they might have some helpful info.
they might have some helpful info.
hennydamule
Silver Member
Oh yeah, I highly recommend drinking beer while you do this. One for the moss, one for the chef, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Just drink something better than you give the moss.
