Make a Mounded Succulent Arrangement Amazing tips

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Many eye-catching succulent arrangements are mounded, meaning plants are massed atop the container. Mounded arrangements look established right away and are quick and easy to assemble. The secret is stack root balls on top of each other and angle rosettes outward. They don't tumble out because they're recessed a little, and are supported by those below them.

Materials

Sempervivum and sedum

For a 12-inch-diameter container 3 inches deep, I used 22 sempervivums (hens-and-chicks) and six sedums (stonecrops), all in 2-inch pots. Find species and cultivar names below. All are from Mountain Crest Gardens and are cold-hardy to at least zero (some to -30F). Other rosette succulents, like echeverias, would work as well.

Learn more about cold-hardy succulents.

Step-by-Step DIY

I drilled a hole in this stoneware serving bowl so I could use it as a pot for succulents.

1. (Above) Fill the container to about an inch below the rim with potting soil.

First layer

2. (Above) Slide plants out of their pots and lean them along the rim with their root balls atop the soil, and the base of each rosette resting on the edge of the pot.

Note: You'll see in the video I replaced several bottom-row semps with sedums. They add texture and trail.

3. (Below) Add soil to fill the open area shown in the first step, then add more plants to create a similar second layer. These should be recessed, angle upward at about 45 degrees, with bottom leaves resting against the top leaves of the first layer.

Second layer

4. (Below) Add more plants to create the third (top) layer. Add soil to elevate them, if need be, so the overall shape of the arrangement is a dome. Tuck sedum into gaps. (Gently pull root balls apart to make the sedums easier to plant.)

Top layer

5. (Below) Fill remaining openings with soil. (I used a spoon.) To add interest, I embellished the arrangement with ceramic drawer knobs that resemble semps. 

Add soil to openings

6. (Below) Hose off the arrangement to remove soil clinging to the leaves and help secure the root balls. When mine was done dripping, I used it for a patio table centerpiece.

Varieties I used (but just about any semps and fine-leaved sedums will work):

Sempervivum heuffelii (various), S. calcareum, S. 'Watermelon Rind', S. globiferum, S. arachnoideum, S. 'El Greco', S. 'Zulu', S. 'Chocolate Kiss', S. 'Strawberry Kiwi', S. 'Mint Marvel'; Sedum spathulifolium 'Harvest Moon', S.  hispanicum 'Blue Carpet', S. spurium 'Tri-Color', S. dasyphyllum 'Himalayan Skies', S. tetractinum.

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Cold Hardy Succulents: Details, Photos and Varieties

Cold-Hardy Succulents: Details, Photos & Varieties Looking for succulents that go below freezing? You’re in the right place! About cold-hardy succulents The common cold-hardy succulents shown here can handle northern winters, snow, rainstorms (if given excellent drainage) and summer dry spells. Most cold-hardy succulents are in the genera Sedum and Sempervivum. Sedum (stonecrop) Trailing varieties are lovely as…

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Brody’s Lovely, Low-Cost Succulent Garden Amazing tips

Celebrating the Joy of Succulents subscriber Brody Scotland says her lovely, low-cost succulent garden "was a three-year project, since we couldn’t throw a pile of money at it all at once." She describes herself and husband Ben as "artists and weirdos" who love bright colors and outdoor woodworking projects. Their vivid blue house "looks amazing as a backdrop for succulents," Brody says. The location is San Leandro (Zone 10b), across the Bay from San Francisco.

Brody works full-time in the art department of Burning Man, a famed annual arts event. "And when I’m not doing that, I’m a photographer, a linocut artist, and whatever other crafts strike my fancy." Inspired by succulent garden designer Laura Eubanks, Brody "cut down a few small trees, wheelbarrowed in the soil, made the mounds, planted the plants, placed the bigger rocks, and top-dressed everything with smaller rock. I didn’t even let my husband help, so I could say I did it all myself."

Why Share Her Garden?

"I want other folks to see it’s possible to have a small suburban backyard garden on a budget," Brody says. "We have enough disposable income to have a garden, mind you---it’s a huge privilege to have a home, much less the money and free time to have a garden. But relatively speaking, I did this project on pretty much the bare minimum that one could do a project like this. It took way longer and was probably more of a pain in the behind. It’s fun though, to see where you can get creative without throwing money at problems."

It's also fun, she says, to talk about her garden and "invite people in digitally, now that I can’t have everybody over due to the pandemic."

Why did she contact yours truly? "I appreciate you so much and all the effort you take to educate those of us out here." (Aw.)

Come On In!

These photos and captions (all by Brody herself) take you on a virtual tour of her 900-square-foot back yard. Later on, you'll learn more of her money-saving tips for a lovely, low-cost succulent garden.

       

A Rock Named Hannah

Brody learned about succulent garden design, preparation and planting here on my website and in Laura Eubanks' videos. "She’s always been so kind and engaging," Brody says of Laura. "I went up to one of her classes at Mountain Crest Gardens and met her and daughter Hannah. I actually have a rock in my front yard named Hannah, because she gave it to me. It was an extra from the installation they did up there. It’s purple. Hannah knows she has a rock named after her, ha-ha."

Succulent Garden on a Budget

Brody offers these additional budget-minded ideas:

-- "I had sandy loam soil delivered in bulk from the rock yard and then moved it to the backyard. I bought a wheelbarrow, moved the soil to the backyard over the course of a weekend, and then sold the wheelbarrow on Craigslist for $25 less than I bought it for. Cheaper than renting and the new owner came and picked it up."

-- "The red and black 3/8” lava rock I brought home in 50 pound bags, little by little, as I was completing sections of the backyard. It was such a small area that, even though it was twice as much to buy it in bags, I saved the $80 delivery fee and having a giant pile of rock in my driveway. Since I was going to have to move it to the backyard anyway, and I was doing this in my spare time, I just got it in bags and hauled them back one by one and spread them out. I also add a handful of pumice into each planting hole, to increase drainage."

-- "I found succulents at plant exchanges, on street corners, by asking neighbors for cuttings, in the Free section of Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, from friends moving out of town, fellow succulent enthusiasts online, and at the farmer’s market. I collected them over the course of many months before putting them all into the ground."

--"I also propagate plants from leaves and grow my own succulents from seeds, though this is more a hobby pursuit and a long game than an actual, useful, succulent-increase strategy."

--"My garden is hand-watered, no irrigation. I couldn’t afford irrigation, and it’s soothing to be out there in the warm months with a garden hose first thing in the morning. On a good year we get enough rain in the winter to avoid having to water much."

Find and Follow Brody Scotland

Debra: I screen-captured a dozen photos from Brody's Instagram page to show you, then realized this article was already too long. Besides, I know you'll enjoy going there and seeing her posts yourself. When you do, be sure to thank Brody for the virtual tour and great tips.

Want to share your garden with us? Please go to the Contact Debra page.

 

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Succulent Lovers’ Favorite Tools Amazing tips

Do you own the favorite tools of your fellow succulent lovers? Consider: We differ from other gardeners in that our prized plants can turn on us. Cacti, agaves, euphorbias and even aloes can act like dogs who resent having their nails trimmed. (I don't know about yours, but my Chihuahua is a two-person job.)

Being shredded is unpleasant, so I asked my "Celebrating the Joy of Succulents" newsletter subscribers to suggest tools they wouldn't be without. Dale's (below) is new to me, and I'll order it. Most are under $10. All make great gifts for us prickly-plant aficionados. Links are affiliate. 

Don't see your own favorite tool? Tell us about it in the Comments!

To join (and enjoy) the "Celebrating the Joys of Succulents" community,  subscribe to my newsletter.

I asked, you kindly answered

"What garden tools would you not be without?"

Hemostats

Hemostats (forceps)

Jean Sadler: "I would be lost without my hemostats. I have a small and large pair. They are great for picking out leaves and debris from prickly succulents and cactus without getting those pesky thorns in my hands. I found mine at a home show at our fairgrounds. It was a booth that sells all kinds of medical tools, scissors, magnifiers, and such."

15-inch tweezers

15-inch tweezers

Tom Karwin: "The first tool I bring to a succulent grooming project is my 15-inch tweezers. I've been using mine recently to remove debris from small agaves and desiccated leaves from aloes. I also have a shorter tweezer but the longer one is more versatile and easy to use."

Test tube tongs

Test tube tongs

Dale Rekus: "I use test tube tongs for handling prickly pieces or plants and cacti. Tongs grasp the object when you release the pressure, the opposite of usual kitchen tongs. Very nice, no cramps from squeezing the handles the whole time you're holding an item in the tongs.

Fish hook extractor

Fish hook remover

Diane Bonner: "My favorite cactus tool is a fish hook remover for pulling out weeds from under stickery cactus."

Soil knife

Soil knife ("hori-hori")

Sarah Lee Norman: "My favorite garden tool was a gift from Laura Balaoro...a soil knife."

Barb Graue: “My hori hori Japanese gardening knife.”

Chopsticks

Cassie Smith: "I have a set of smooth wooden chop sticks that I use with almost every planting endeavor. I would be lost without 'em."

Which reminds me: During a potting demo at Roger’s Gardens, I asked my helper to get my chopsticks. I watched her dig around in my tote bag and thought I'd forgotten to bring them. Then she said, “Debra, I’m so sorry, there’s no Chapstick.” 

My own favorites

 

Joyce Chen kitchen scissors 

Joyce Chen scissors. Although designed for kitchen use (like cutting through bones), my Joyce Chens are my favorite garden tool. They're perfect for light pruning and taking cuttings, yet are strong and sharp enough to tackle small branches.

See More on My Tools Page

Find more useful items, books, weed and pest preventers, fertilizers, and must-haves that I use for my own garden at Tools & Must-Haves for Succulent Gardeners.

Tools, Books and Products for Succulent Gardeners

Tools & Must-Haves for Succulent Gardeners My personal favorites Click on the links below to jump directly to that section, or scroll down to take a look at everything. Pest & Weed Prevention and Treatment Garden Tools Fertilizer Power Tools (Drill) Sun and Frost Protection Books Other Useful Items Pest & Weed Prevention and Treatment…

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