How to Grow Succulents in a Garden

Succulents are easy to grow, require little water and maintenance and usually have vibrant blooms. Succulents thrive specifically in arid conditions, but can be grown almost anywhere, under almost any conditions. If you don't have the greenest thumb, succulents are a great choice and come in a vast array of colors, shapes and sizes.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An outdoor garden area
• Hand trowel
• Water hose

1. Prepare your garden area. Succulents thrive in full sun, with sandy, well drained soils. Remove weeds and till the soil, breaking up any hard clumps and removing rocks.

2. Choose which succulents to plant in the garden. Mass smaller plants around larger focal point plants or do massed plantings of a single variety. Popular varieties of succulents include aloe, cacti, sedums and jade plants.

3. Lay out the garden. Arrange the plants, while still potted, to get an idea of how everything will look. Choose layouts that will draw the eye towards the focal plants.

4. Plant the succulents in the garden. Use a hand trowel to dig holes slightly larger than the root ball of the plants. Leave the base of the plant slightly above the edge of the garden soil.

5. Water the succulents. Water them well to help the roots take hold, but don't water on a daily basis. Unlike other plants, succulents don't need daily watering after planting, and will only require occasional watering afterward.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't over water your succulents. Unlike traditional garden plants, succulents require water only once per month or so.
• Massed planting can be used to create vibrant gardens. Plant a taller succulent in the center, with smaller plants massed around it, to make stunning settings.
• In areas with harsh winter conditions, you will need to cover your succulents during cold months, or transplant them to containers and bring them indoors.

Resources

• Growing tips and more

[debraleebaldwin]

on 1/27/2009 Wow, big topic! For detailed information, please see my bestselling book, "Designing with Succulents" (Timber Press, 2007)? -- Debra Lee Baldwin