Gardeners living in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8 through 10 know how warm it can get during the summer months; hardy plant choices for the garden are essential for a healthy-looking yard. Sedum succulents require minimal maintenance with a big payback in aesthetic value. Varied in color through 600 different species, these thick-leafed perennials can decorate even a shallow container, such as a small pot. Careful attention to soil requirements will result in a successful sedum garden.
Fill a shallow container loosely with succulent mix using a gardening trowel. The mix should be close to the container's top edge, but not flush with it. Succulent mix is commonly a combination of well-draining materials, such as grit and sand. Carefully jostle the container to settle the soil mix into the space.
Insert a wooden dowel slightly into the soil where you would like the sedum to be planted. There should be a minimum of 1/8 inch between each plant. Continue to add holes in the soil to create your container garden. Do not arrange them in neat rows; the sedum needs to look natural with random spacing throughout.
Carefully place one sedum cutting into each hole. Cuttings should be prepared prior to planting; after being cut from the mother plant, they need to scab and heal for approximately one week.
Arrange different varieties of sedum into the holes rather than clustering one species together. Spread each species around the container so you have numerous colors complementing each other. You can move the sedum cuttings around if you are not satisfied with their initial positions. The cuttings are hardy even out of the soil.
Carefully spread the soil around each sedum by hand when you are happy with their positions. Use caution so you do not knock any sedums out of their holes. The roots will be just under the topsoil; they will spread out as they acclimate to the new container.
Water the sedum thoroughly to keep them healthy.
Things You Will Need
- Succulent mix
- Gardening trowel
- Wooden dowel
- Your shallow container can be a basic horizontal pot or even a vertical garden. Many gardeners enjoy decorating the walls with a vertical garden, complete with a frame and wire mesh to hold the sedum in place.
- Do not overwater the sedum. Although the succulent soil mix is well-draining, excessive watering can lead to root rot and leaf dieback.
- Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images