20 Tough Succulents for Streetside Gardens

20 tough street side succulents (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Photos show the garden six weeks after installation. A list of plant names is at the end.  In a streetside garden near a busy intersection, utilitarian items are inevitable, but with a little ingenuity, they needn’t be eyesores.  A succulent-scape that Hannah Eubanks of Design for Serenity created for Grangetto’s Farm and Garden Supply solves multiple…

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To Tree or Not to Tree? Ask Your Succulents

Debra Lee Baldwin in her garden (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Do consider the need for shade when installing a succulent garden, especially if you—like me—live in a hot, dry region of the Southwest where winter frost is also a concern. Tree canopies moderate temperature extremes and create the dappled sunshine succulents love. Dappled shade enhances my garden’s succulent sitting area Of course, not all succulents…

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Great Plants and Ideas from Arizona Gardens

Arizona succulent color garden

These plants and ideas inspired by the annual spring Phoenix Garden Tour will work throughout the Southwest. What grows effortlessly in Arizona typically does well in dry, hot areas of Southern California—except of course for

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Gap Fillers for New Succulent Gardens

Ice plant and agave (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

A subscriber asks: “What should I do to fill garden gaps while waiting for succulents to get big? I’ve put in a variety and left room for future growth. How can I make my new garden look finished?” I have several ideas, but first…

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Succulent Driveway Essentials

Agave franzosinii, aloes, barrels, golden jade Succulent driveway (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

The succulent driveway essentials I’ve compiled here illustrate low-water, easy-maintenance options for driveway plantings throughout the Southwest. Loaded with ideas, you’ll find these tips, must-know’s, and 75-photo Gallery certain to inspire you.

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Hannah’s Stunning Succulent Reef

Hannah Eubanks succulent reef garden (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Hannah Eubanks, 24, shows us a stunning succulent reef garden she created for a client in Vista, CA. The youngest of three daughters of celebrity landscaper Laura Eubanks, Hannah expedited the project start-to-finish. “My mom was totally hand’s-off,” she says proudly.

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See a City Hacienda Succulent Garden

Succulent planter and spa (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

Bright colors inspired by Mexican tile and Talavera pottery enhance an urban succulent oasis with a hacienda theme. See how owners have utilized minimal space, created inviting and practical living areas, muffled neighborhood noise, and maximized their privacy.

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Should You Use Weed Barrier Fabric?

Weed fabric in cactus garden (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

No doubt you’ve seen black fabric laid over bare soil with holes cut out for plants. But how important is it to use weed barrier fabric, really? What are the do’s and don’ts?

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See a Seven-Room Succulent Garden I Love

Pam and Tim Jara with Debra Lee Baldwin (c) Debra Lee Baldwin

This standard-sized back yard has 7 outdoor living areas: spa, bar/barbecue, dining, fireplace, vegetable garden, bonsai/mosaic garden, and fountain/aeonium garden. There are even more if you count…

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