A Dozen Beginners’ Succulent Landscape Mistakes
As a succulent garden design consultant, I typically see about a dozen common landscape mistakes made by beginners. Correcting them makes a big difference aesthetically
Do any of these apply to your garden? If not, applause! Please share your own tips and suggestions in the Comments---I'd love to hear them!
1. Dead stuff
This doesn't belong in your personal Eden. Removing dead limbs and deadheading spent flowers are instant improvements.
2. White that yells "Look at me!"
No "color" stands out in a garden more than white. Something plastic and utilitarian is often the offender. If there's no way to remove it, spray-paint it. Ever noticed? Over time, dead limbs and foliage turn white.
Five-second solution: I made the white irrigation cap disappear with brown spray paint.
3. Cute crap
I feel mean mentioning this, but faded flags, platitudinous signs, chipped plaster squirrels, and garlanded bunnies are ghastly. The only excuse is if a sweet child gave them to you. Or they're made by Meissen.
4. Unsheltered dining areas
If a table is out in the open, chances are you won't use it. IMHO, the best "roof" is a tree canopy. Next best: sun sails.
Inexpensive sun/shade sails are available from Amazon (affiliate link).
5. Contempt for jade
Hey, there's a reason Crassula ovata is so common. It's a great low-maintenance, low-water shrub. See my live video: Debra Defends Jade Plant (4:04). It's a fave. Comments include, "You do stand-up comedy?!"
6. Not enough repetition
We gardeners want one of everything, but the most soothing aspect of any landscape is repetition. Without it the eye moves jerkily throughout the area.
Play up the powder blue of certain succulents by repeating their startling color with blue fescue (Festuca glauca). Notice contrast here too: the wispy grass contrasts with the bold, dynamic shape of Agave parryi 'Truncata'.
7. Lack of contrast
Good design needs contrast for interest and drama. Colors, sure, but also texture---hard and soft, smooth vs. nubby. For example, contrast agaves or aloes with feathery ornamental grasses.
Pots in Hannah Jarson's garden illustrate the design principles of scale, repetition and contrast.
8. Eyesores
Due to familiarity blindness, you may no longer notice a neighbor's junk (or for that matter your own). However, guests do---at least subliminally. I know you've been meaning to plant a hedge or install a screen.
9. Too many too-small pots
It's all about scale. Areas like your home's entry need big pots, not a cacophony of wee ones. Consider large planters as an investment that enhances your architecture. What to do with all those small pots? See my video: How to Group and Display Potted Succulents (9:46).
A large red pot contrasts in form and color with Agave attenuata in Patrick Anderson's garden.
10. Pancake-flat plantings
Great, your lawn's gone! You needn't make the new garden level. Bring in soil and create mounds and swales. And boulders! See my video: Why you Really Need Rocks (5:32).
Above: Could this be any flatter? One wonders if a steamroller were involved. Below: A newly planted mounded succulent garden. Design by Michael Buckner for Carolyn Schaer.
11. No nursery/potting area
Most of us need a holding place for new plants, cuttings, tools, containers, fertilizer, bags of soil, etc. An underutilized side yard with a hose is ideal. Add a potting bench, shelves and shade.
My own nursery/potting area has Texas privet along the west side pruned to create dappled shade for succulents awaiting a home in the garden.
12. Weeds
Not only do they look awful, but being pure evil, weeds WILL reseed. Pull 'em early, and spread an environmentally friendly pre-emergent herbicide before the first winter rain.
How did you do?
Is there something I should add to the list? Please leave your suggestions in the Comments below.
Find more helpful ideas on this site's Succulent Landscapes page.
Above: What do you think---did I take my own advice? See my own half-acre garden in spring.
Related Info on this Site
25 Succulent Mistakes and Solutions
My what-not-to-do’s are simple to avoid, but not necessarily easy to remedy. A smart succulent owner learns what can be expensive to fix, might cause prized plants to look dreadful, and could even kill them.
Silly Succulents and Garden Store Horrors
Succulents that make me want to scream are proliferating at my local garden center…which I’m now calling The Big Box of Horrors. I suspect these appeal to kids and newbies who are unaware that fake-and-flashy succulents are doomed to fail, and also to anyone who assumes if a plant’s for sale, it must be OK.…
Hello Debra,
Great video. I look forward to your regular emails. Re: your list #12 – Can you suggest an ” environmentally friendly pre-emergent herbicide” ? Thank you , ellen
Hi Ellen, yes, here’s the link: https://amzn.to/3vTV3MK
That appears to be for lawns only. What about non-lawn areas?
Hi Cathy — It’s for succulent gardens. Nothing to do with lawns. Not sure I understand your question…sorry!
Hi Debra, sorry. I should have said the Amazon link you provided for weed control. The product appears to be for lawns. But if it works for succulent gardens, great! I’ll check it out.
Thank you,
Cathy
The perfect article! Ideas and information, examples and photos/videos, and your special garden! You covered everything, and I passed your test with flying colors!
Thank you, Steve! You’re a dependably honest critic, so I know it’s heartfelt. Plus, congratulations!
Clever, fun, and HELPFUL article. You are wonderful at inspiring others with your knowledge and imagination. Thanks!
Aw, thanks, dear Matt. Remember when we did your garden for Sunset? Not a mistake in sight, in fact, you took it to the next level. One of my all-time favorites.
Please provide dates of Garden and Succulent Shows
and events for your subscribers.
Surely there are some going on now.
Many thanks,
Cynthia
Hi Cynthia — Here’s a link to the events calendar for Cactus & Succulent Society Shows: https://cactusandsucculentsociety.org/calendar_of_events.html
Haha, you made me laugh! Gotta go now and move my tin owl into the garage.
Aw, how bad can a tin owl be? I feel terrible.
Great article, love it.
Love your article. I live in South Africa and started loving succulents through your and Laura Eubanks’ generous videos and articles. Thanks so much! One of my pet hates, I’m afraid, is topdressing around succulents with coloured glass – I find it so jarring and artificial – like the white plastic caps etc. I know it’s a personal taste thing, but imo, it doesn’t add anything to the design.
Love your article. I live in South Africa and started loving succulents through your and Laura Eubanks’ generous videos and articles. Thanks so much! One of my pet hates, I’m afraid, is topdressing around succulents with coloured glass – I find it so jarring and artificial – like the white plastic caps etc. I know it’s a personal taste thing, but imo, it doesn’t add anything to the design.
Hi Katja — Thank you. Such design elements as colored glass are indeed subjective. I happen to like it when done well, but then, what I consider well done is not to everyone’s liking. When trying to establish my credibility as an author specializing in Designing with Succulents (the title of my first book), I credited my experience as a design writer and photographer for magazines such as Better Homes & Gardens and Sunset. I even coined the phrase, “the Sunset aesthetic.” This is not to say I’m always right—if such a word applies—merely that I recognize what might appeal to the editors and readers of such publications.
Thanks for mentioning these landscaping mistakes here. Now that I know these mistakes, I’ll make sure that I don’t do any of these things. I want to make my landscaping design as good as possible.
So nice of you to let me know, Greg! Thank you!
Hi Debra,
I love your site, very informative and beautiful, indeed.
I was so glad and thankful to you for defending the Jade plant. I have a lot of succulents now, but before I lived in Topanga Cyn for over 30 years on a steep hillside with many large CA oaks trees. The only plant that could survive such shade and nearly no water was the Jade. I try, like you, to convince my friends who feel almost obliged to comment the jade plant is so common. Well, for a similar reason jeans pants are common too. Everybody has at least one pair.
Hi Maya — Thank you for the compliments. I love it: Jade is to succulents what jeans are to clothing. Or better: Jade is to your garden what jeans are to your wardrobe. Must borrow that!