Answer: plants need water, carbon dioxide and sunlight to grow. rocks with small cracks and holes may trap water that is enough for the needs of a small plant but as the plant grows its roots will make the crack bigger so it can hold greater amount of water.

Those that grow on rocks are also known as epipetric or epilithic plants. Lithophytes that grow on land feed off nutrients from rain water and nearby decaying plants, including their own dead tissue. Chasmophytes grow in fissures in rocks where soil or organic matter has accumulated.

Lithophytes are plants that grow in or on rocks. They can be classified as either epilithic (or epipetric) or endolithic, with the former being plants that grow on the surfaces of rocks.

It is recognized that rock powders can be a source of plant nutrients, mainly by supplying P, K, Fe and Si, as well as trace nutrients to the plants. Rocks also have a capacity to raise the pH of the soil, acting as correctives of the acidity and releasing other nutrients, such as Ca and Mg.

As the others have said, topdressing with rocks helps to prevent too much evaporation. I also find that it tends to prevent too much soil from washing away when watering my plants. Also, the rocks help keep the top layer of soil from blowing away — here in the desert that top layer dries out fast!

As well as blocking weeds from growing, placing the right stones on top of soil will also help water drainage. By adding porous rocks on top of your soil, they will absorb a lot of the rain water. This gives the soil the opportunity to benefit from a respectable amount of water instead of way too much.

Adding compost or garden soil can be beneficial Two other organic materials that you could add to your potting mix are leaf mold and compost, which offer a wide spectrum of nutrients.

Pebbles, bark, slate and gravel are all very simple to lay – making them popular ground cover aggregates.

Once established, a cover crop reduces weed pressure and nearly eliminates wind erosion of top soil. Moreover, once the cover crop has been turned in, it will decompose, adding beneficial nutrients and organic matter in the form of a nitrogenous material to the garden.

Adding organic matter in the form of compost and aged manure, or using mulch or growing cover crops (green manures), is the best way to prepare soil for planting. Adding chemical fertilizers will replenish only certain nutrients and do nothing for maintaining good, friable soil.

You cold use herbicides to kill the existing grass before tilling the earth, but completely removing the turf eliminates the chance of new plants growing from tubers and seeds left behind. Remove as much soil as possible from the grass roots or the grass could continue to grow in the mulch pile.

How soon in the spring can I spray Roundup and how long do I have to wait after I spray Roundup before I can start tilling the soil? Wait 5-7 days after spraying Roundup before starting to till up the plots.

After the tiller breaks through the remaining grass and loosens the soil, the grass remaining in the soil still can grow from its roots and/or seeds. Unless you want to fight weeds and grass throughout the gardening season, remove the remaining grass before you plant crops, advises the National Gardening Association.

It is a great idea to roll the area after tilling to avoid low spots. Remember, your lawn is an extension of your living area, so a smooth lawn helps you avoid injuries from uneven surfaces. Lawn rollers can also be used on areas that are lumpy with molehills or anthills. Rake first to level the areas, then roll.

To seed a new lawn or plant grass seeds in bare spots, follow the steps below.

1. Clear the Area.
2. Treat the Old Soil.
3. Till the Soil.
4. Check and Adjust the Soil’s pH.
5. Add Fertilizer.
6. Grade the Soil.
7. Roll the Soil and Seed the Lawn.
8. Water the Lawn.

Read this if looking for a lawn roller alternative (sod roller…

• Use Plywood (alternative when laying sod)
• Use a power rake to smooth bumpy lawn when seeding.
• Use a Bobcat to smooth a lawn that mirrors a minefield.
• Use a leveling drag instead of a grass seed roller.
• Try a land plane.
• Use a drag broom.

Alternatives to Rolling An easy alternative is to use a sheet of plywood to press the sod into the soil. It can be laid over the sod and walked on — the plywood distributes the weight evenly, just as a roller does.