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Gardening tips for succulent plants are different in many ways than those for more traditional garden plant varieties. Succulents are plants more commonly referred to as the cactus varieties or the very drought resistant plants. In very hot climates these plants are often the only types of garden plants that can survive without extreme attention. Gardening tips for succulent plants focus on water retention, providing adequate fertilization and taking advantage of natural and created shade.

Some of the drought resistant varieties of garden plants are:

* Aloe Vera – not only is this plant very beautiful in the garden but it also has wonderful healing properties for skin burns and wounds. The aloe vera can often grow very large so should be planted in areas where it can expand and spread.

* Spoon Jade – often grown as an indoor plant this succulent has a tree like shape with thick, spoon shaped bright or deep green leaves. Spoon Jade is also called Horseshoe Jade and can be kept very small and used as bonsai type accents in containers. One of the most important gardening tips for succulent plants is to plant them in containers and then move them indoors in the winter if the temperature becomes too cold for them to stay outdoors year around.

* Hens and Chickens – also known as Dogs and Pups, this very short, spreading succulent spreads by small little round miniature plants that grow off the “mother” plant and then roll away and establish themselves in the garden.

* Moss Rose – this is a beautiful, continuously flowering succulent that can be used in hanging containers, in patio containers, or as a border in succulent gardens. Moss Rose thrives in direct light with minimal amount of water or attention.

* Dragon’s Blood – this amazingly dark red succulent grows in thick, trailing branches that adds an amazing color to succulent gardens. It can also be used in hanging baskets and containers.

Gardening tips for succulent plants include the proper way to root the plants. They are usually very easy to start by simply making a clipping that is four to six inches long. Insert the cut end into soft, sandy soil. Rooting compound or hormones, available at most nurseries or gardening stores, can be used to help the clipping root. Moisten the soil and keep in damp, but never allow it to get soaking wet or allow the clipping to sit in water.

Researching the specific gardening tips for succulent plants in your garden will help you use these versatile and drought resistant plants even in your most challenging landscaping areas.

This article will discuss the importance of a detailed gardening landscape
plan. It will review the advantages of developing a plan and discuss the
disadvantages of proceeding without a plan.

Just Get It Done!

A gardening landscape plan is critical to the success of a landscaping
project. We live in a society that believes in sound bites and doing things
as fast as possible. That philosophy makes it easy to ignore the need for
careful planning. A gardening landscape plan should be prepared before a
single plant is purchased. It also needs to cover the entire project from
beginning to end. Saying, “Just get it done!” can result in an end product
that does not meet your expectations.

So Many Decisions

A proper gardening landscape plan involves many decisions.

* Decide how much you can afford to spend and fit your plan to your budget

* Determine if you will hire a professional landscaper or do the work
yourself or some combination

* Evaluate the purpose of the project. Is it primarily for privacy,
entertainment, sunblocking, to add to the value of the property, or for
viewing.

* Evaluate whether you can do the project all at once or will have to do it
in phases. If it is to be completed in phases, make sure each stage takes
into account the plans to be completed in the future. Don’t build a raised
flowerbed this year in the spot where a fishpond will be installed next
year.

* Decide each of the components of the project, such as fences, lighting,
walkways, shrubs and so on

* Determine what you want to plant and the purpose of each planting –
whether it be decorative or utilitarian

I Have a Proposition

A gardening landscape plan is a process that will require numerous
revisions. It is necessary to draw your plan on paper, beginning with the
dimensions and shape of the area to be landscaped. The plan should be drawn
to scale. Normally, a landscaping gardening plan uses symbols to indicate
what is to be included in the project. It is highly recommended you make
plenty of copies of the original area drawing, because it will take several
iterations to develop a plan you can afford and will work for the space.
A gardening landscape plan can be drawn for any size project. No matter
whether you are completely redoing your entire yard, or just creating a
flower garden, a gardening landscape plan should be developed.

The Payoff

The payoff for a detailed gardening landscape plan is a final project that
meets your expectations, and most likely stayed on budget. While developing
the plan, do continuous research. There may be many things you did not know
about which should be incorporated in your plan. For example, did you take
into consideration water runoff from that slope in your back yard? Did you
pick plants that suit your climate? Once your gardening landscape plan is
complete, it is time to start digging!