90 FEBRUARY 2019 | gardenandhome.co.za

SUCCULENT GARDEN

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By understanding the basics, you can create your own on-trend, water-wise garden

SucculentSUCCESS

Succulents come in a wide range of shapes, textures, forms and colours. They can be combined in different ways to

create visually pleasing effects whether in containers or the garden. Easy to cultivate and propagate, fun to collect and exchange with friends, succulents are a great way to turn gardening disadvantages such as drought, shallow soil, nutrient-poor soil and lack of time into plusses such as hardy, no fuss, water wise, low-maintenance and on trend.

gardenandhome.co.za | FEBRUARY 2019 91

Choosing plantsBegin by choosing accent or focal feature plants first. These should be large, tall, spiky and dramatically different from the others. Good accent plants include yuccas, cycads, aloes, Euphorbia tirucalli and agaves. To add depth and interest, interplant with fine, medium and coarsely textured varieties. Fine texture: Crassula multicava, C. rogersii, Sedum spp. Delosperma echinatum and ruschia. Medium texture: Senecio ficoides,

Kalanchoe sexangularis, Portulacaria afra, Senecio scaposus, ebracteola, aloinopsis, Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ and Sedum nussbaumerianum. Large texture: Sansevieria hahnii and S. trifasciata. Coarse texture: Cotelydons such as Cotyledon orbiculata, Kalanchoe sexangularis, K. thyrsiflora, Echeveria ‘Red Tip’, E. imbricata, Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’, Senecio serpensand S. barbertonicus.Colour: The range of colours is also extensive so include plants with attractive hues such as red Kalanchoe sexangularis, Crassula ‘Campfire’, Echeveria ‘Fire and Ice’ and E. ‘Fred Yves’, blue-grey Senecio scaposus and S. ficoides, blue Echeveria secunda, black-rosetted Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ lime-green Sedum angelina, deep-green Senecio barbertonicus, yellow Sedum nussbaumerianum and chalky purple Echeveria ‘Afterglow’. !

A tapestry of succulent forms, textures and colours.

Crassula multicava

Kalanchoe sexangularis

Portulacaria afra

Sansevieria trifasciata

Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’

90 FEBRUARY 2019 | gardenandhome.co.za

SUCCULENT GARDEN

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By understanding the basics, you can create your own on-trend, water-wise garden

SucculentSUCCESS

Succulents come in a wide range of shapes, textures, forms and colours. They can be combined in different ways to

create visually pleasing effects whether in containers or the garden. Easy to cultivate and propagate, fun to collect and exchange with friends, succulents are a great way to turn gardening disadvantages such as drought, shallow soil, nutrient-poor soil and lack of time into plusses such as hardy, no fuss, water wise, low-maintenance and on trend.

gardenandhome.co.za | FEBRUARY 2019 91

Choosing plantsBegin by choosing accent or focal feature plants first. These should be large, tall, spiky and dramatically different from the others. Good accent plants include yuccas, cycads, aloes, Euphorbia tirucalli and agaves. To add depth and interest, interplant with fine, medium and coarsely textured varieties. Fine texture: Crassula multicava, C. rogersii, Sedum spp. Delosperma echinatum and ruschia. Medium texture: Senecio ficoides,

Kalanchoe sexangularis, Portulacaria afra, Senecio scaposus, ebracteola, aloinopsis, Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ and Sedum nussbaumerianum. Large texture: Sansevieria hahnii and S. trifasciata. Coarse texture: Cotelydons such as Cotyledon orbiculata, Kalanchoe sexangularis, K. thyrsiflora, Echeveria ‘Red Tip’, E. imbricata, Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’, Senecio serpensand S. barbertonicus.Colour: The range of colours is also extensive so include plants with attractive hues such as red Kalanchoe sexangularis, Crassula ‘Campfire’, Echeveria ‘Fire and Ice’ and E. ‘Fred Yves’, blue-grey Senecio scaposus and S. ficoides, blue Echeveria secunda, black-rosetted Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ lime-green Sedum angelina, deep-green Senecio barbertonicus, yellow Sedum nussbaumerianum and chalky purple Echeveria ‘Afterglow’. !

A tapestry of succulent forms, textures and colours.

Crassula multicava

Kalanchoe sexangularis

Portulacaria afra

Sansevieria trifasciata

Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’

92 FEBRUARY 2019 | gardenandhome.co.za

Planting patternsBLOCK PLANTING

In contemporary and formal gardens, mass succulents in blocks according to their colour, shape and texture in structured, geometric patterns. Emphasise the contemporary style by laying gravel or bark chips between plants.

RANDOM PLANTING

This method imitates nature and the positioning is left to chance, giving the garden an informal, relaxed look. To recreate this effect, randomly plant larger succulents among groups of smaller ones.

JOHN SAUER OF NGENA SUCCULENTS HAS THIS ADVICE FOR GROWING SUCCULENTS

Plant succulents in well-drained soil, using a combination of compost or potting

soil mixed with 30 percent washed river sand. Add some bonemeal and Talborne

Vita Grow.

While succulents can survive for long periods of time with little water, they do

require water at least once a week in summer to keep them looking good. Allow

the soil to dry out between watering; overwatering can lead to root rot. Reduce

watering to every second week in winter.

Fertilise every six months. Over-fertilising encourages succulents to grow too fast

and weakens their immune systems.

Pests aren’t a major problem with small numbers of succulents, but keep an eye

out for mealy bugs and lice. Ask your local nursery for a suitable pesticide.

Echeveria ‘Afterglow’

John Sauer’s award-winning garden combines succulents with different textures, forms and colours.

gardenandhome.co.za | FEBRUARY 2019 93

SOURCES Garden World

gardenworld.co.za John Sauer

Ngena Succulents ngena.africa

Tasha Tollman DIY Garden Designer

diygardendesigner.com

PLANT LIST

1 Yucca

2 Agave attenuata

3 Euphorbia tirucalli

4 Spekboom

5 Crassula multicava

6 Crassula rogersii

7 Crassula capitella

8 Echeveria ‘Fire and Ice’

9 Echeveria ‘Fred Yves’

10 Crassula mucosa

11 Kalanchoe sexangularis

12 Senecio ficoides

13 Senecio scaposus

14 Sansevieria trifasciata

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DRIFT PLANTING

This style of planting, as seen in this garden (above) at Garden World, highlights rhythm, repetition and unity, weaving plants into a fluid tapestry. First position the accent plants. The yucca (1) and Agave attenuata (2) form the first layer as they have a strong architectural shape. Take note that they have different heights and were planted in groups of three forming a loose triangle. This creates a pleasing sense of order. The Euphorbia tirucalli (3) forms the background planting. Again make sure that you can draw loosely shaped triangles between the plants. The spekboom (4) is planted in front of the E. tirucalli in a loose drift. A drift begins with one or two plants and gradually increases until you have a mass of plants. Notice how they weave in front of or behind neighbouring

plants. For en masse planting, buy at least seven of each plant. To get this look, repeat those plants labelled 5 through to 13 in drifts. The Sansevieria trifasciata (14) are once again grouped together in a triangle and provide an accent in this section of the border.

Sansevieria trifasciata

Flowing drifts create a natural tapestry.

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144

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GET MORE ONLINE Find out more about succulents

at gardenandhome.co.za

92 FEBRUARY 2019 | gardenandhome.co.za

Planting patternsBLOCK PLANTING

In contemporary and formal gardens, mass succulents in blocks according to their colour, shape and texture in structured, geometric patterns. Emphasise the contemporary style by laying gravel or bark chips between plants.

RANDOM PLANTING

This method imitates nature and the positioning is left to chance, giving the garden an informal, relaxed look. To recreate this effect, randomly plant larger succulents among groups of smaller ones.

JOHN SAUER OF NGENA SUCCULENTS HAS THIS ADVICE FOR GROWING SUCCULENTS

Plant succulents in well-drained soil, using a combination of compost or potting

soil mixed with 30 percent washed river sand. Add some bonemeal and Talborne

Vita Grow.

While succulents can survive for long periods of time with little water, they do

require water at least once a week in summer to keep them looking good. Allow

the soil to dry out between watering; overwatering can lead to root rot. Reduce

watering to every second week in winter.

Fertilise every six months. Over-fertilising encourages succulents to grow too fast

and weakens their immune systems.

Pests aren’t a major problem with small numbers of succulents, but keep an eye

out for mealy bugs and lice. Ask your local nursery for a suitable pesticide.

Echeveria ‘Afterglow’

John Sauer’s award-winning garden combines succulents with different textures, forms and colours.

gardenandhome.co.za | FEBRUARY 2019 93

SOURCES Garden World

gardenworld.co.za John Sauer

Ngena Succulents ngena.africa

Tasha Tollman DIY Garden Designer

diygardendesigner.com

PLANT LIST

1 Yucca

2 Agave attenuata

3 Euphorbia tirucalli

4 Spekboom

5 Crassula multicava

6 Crassula rogersii

7 Crassula capitella

8 Echeveria ‘Fire and Ice’

9 Echeveria ‘Fred Yves’

10 Crassula mucosa

11 Kalanchoe sexangularis

12 Senecio ficoides

13 Senecio scaposus

14 Sansevieria trifasciata

2

9

5

7

6

1

3

4

13

14

12

8

DRIFT PLANTING

This style of planting, as seen in this garden (above) at Garden World, highlights rhythm, repetition and unity, weaving plants into a fluid tapestry. First position the accent plants. The yucca (1) and Agave attenuata (2) form the first layer as they have a strong architectural shape. Take note that they have different heights and were planted in groups of three forming a loose triangle. This creates a pleasing sense of order. The Euphorbia tirucalli (3) forms the background planting. Again make sure that you can draw loosely shaped triangles between the plants. The spekboom (4) is planted in front of the E. tirucalli in a loose drift. A drift begins with one or two plants and gradually increases until you have a mass of plants. Notice how they weave in front of or behind neighbouring

plants. For en masse planting, buy at least seven of each plant. To get this look, repeat those plants labelled 5 through to 13 in drifts. The Sansevieria trifasciata (14) are once again grouped together in a triangle and provide an accent in this section of the border.

Sansevieria trifasciata

Flowing drifts create a natural tapestry.

10

11

14

1

1

2

2

3

3

144

4

5

7

GET MORE ONLINE Find out more about succulents

at gardenandhome.co.za