Plant Succulents To Bring Colour Into A Winter Garden
Planting a variety of succulents in a garden not only saves you water but also brings brilliant colour into any garden.
09/07/2023
gardenia.net
The title of this article 'Plant Succulents To Bring Colour Into A Winter Garden' may seem a bit strange, particularly when we naturally associate succulents with summer and lots of sunshine. However, here in South Africa, we are lucky to have just as much sunshine during the winter months as we do during summer. That makes using succulents - plants that enjoy sun - to bring colour into any garden makes a bit more sense, but there is more...
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Succulents change colour in winter
Anyone who already has succulents in their garden will know how these little miracles change colour in the winter. Their lightly tinted edges and leaves assume a much brighter colour and pinks become magenta, light aqua turns into turquoise, and even muted greens take on a much brighter hue. All-in-all, succulents are amazing for adding a splash of colour to the front of flower beds and borders, or even a rockery to break up a large expanse of lawn.
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The reason for the change in colour throughout the year can be blamed on stress. This is a perfectly normal occurrence and one that is encouraged for adding colour to a garden. Where most people would place their potted succulents in a warmer spot, planting them in the garden and letting nature do its work will reward you with a colourful display.
Succulents have an amazing ability to change colour when the weather gets colder. Muted hues become vibrant and bold.
Succulents are easily propagated
A few years back, I posted an article where I purchased a wide selection of succulents in trays. These were all propagated pieces of various succulents species that I would plant in the garden and in pots so that they would reach the stage where I could propagate even more plants. succulents are one of the easiest plants to propagate yourself; a single leaf will eventually grow into a burgeoning plant that you can then use to propagate more. It might be a tad expensive upfront, because garden centres have latched on to the fact that succulents are in great demand, but keep in mind that you only need to purchase one plant to propagate many more.
I tied this article in with a video that was posted on the home page this week and decided to include it on this page for future reference.
Because succulents grow mainly in clumps or groups, they are ideal for edging flower beds and borders and cutting back on garden maintenance.
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Succulents do not need watering
Succulents can be compared to water towers used to collect rainwater, their fleshy leaves and thick stems act like sponges to absorb and store water that allows them to survive a long time without being watered. Pick off a leaf and you will immediately see that it is moist inside where the water is stored. If, at any time during winter you see the leaves becoming wrinkled, then it is time to give them a good soaking. If you do plant succulents in flower beds and borders, when planting dig up the area surrounding where the plants will go and fill this with a fast-draining potting soil or succulent/cactus soil. This will prevent the succulents from being overwatered.
Succulents need lots and lots of sunshine
Succulents love sunshine and the more they receive the better they will flourish. Succulents that do not receive sufficient sunlight during the day will become leggy and straggly. If this does happen, trim the stem of the plant and remove the lower leaves before replanting in a sunny spot.
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Think about where you want to plant succulents to provide colour to flower beds and borders and look around at garden centres and online sites to find the species you like. Choose ones that have a compact size and are low-growing.