by Melody Kendall

The recently installed Succulent/dry Garden is one of three new areas at the Las Flores Learning Garden, a partnership between UC Master Gardeners of Napa County and the City of Napa.

Climate change and water shortages have become a reality in our lives and these conditions are predicted to become more pronounced in the future. Research has shown that California's water year from October 2020 to September 2021 was the driest in nearly a century. How can gardens be created that not only survive these changes and help to slow down this process and still be pleasing to the eye? 

A succulent/dry garden landscape choice promotes low-water use. Keep in mind that a dry garden doesn't need to look like a moonscape. Cacti and succulents offer a variety of color and texture year-round with some amazing blossoms that also attract pollinators.  Add different sized rocks and pebbles, changes of elevation design elements and drought tolerant perennials and grasses and you've got a very interesting and beautiful landscape that requires little or no water. It is possible for Californians to recapture 40-60% of landscape irrigation if they just remove their lawns and put in a succulent/dry garden.  

Our succulent/dry garden currently contains 23 varieties of plants, succulents, drought tolerant plants and grasses that require little or no water. We excluded cacti because of thorns, not wanting to worry about sharp points when doing upkeep in the garden.

What is the difference between a cactus and a succulent? All cacti are succulents but not all succulents are cacti. A wide variety of non-cactus succulents are native to different regions across the world. By contrast, almost all kinds of cacti are native only to the Americas. Cactus plants generally have few or no leaves.

How to have a successful succulent/dry garden

• Amend soil with sand and pumice to add drainage. 

• Clear the area by first removing all old foliage and add a sand mixture to the soil to promote drainage.  Drainage is the key to success in the creation of a succulent garden. As a rule, most succulents do not like wet feet and will rot if the surrounding soil is too moist.

• Create soil mounds to add interest and create microclimates.

• Add landscape design elements to create interest and cause rainwater to flow away from plants, but keep an area contained.

• Consider color, shape, height, and texture in your design and mix in drought-tolerant plants to add variation. Group plants with similar needs.

• Add a swale to contain water runoff and capture rain. A swale serves to drain water away from plants but keep it contained. Runoff on adjacent walkways and other hardscapes is wasteful. Containing the rainwater and allowing it to percolate into the immediate aquifer is the better option. 

• Finish the garden with a top dressing of small rock to help retain soil and water.

Mulch is a great weed prevention method, but wood chip mulches are not appropriate in a succulent garden as they tend to create a prolonged moist environment, and a danger of causing rot. Our garden is topped with a mulch of small gravel. Weeds will be discouraged and the soil will drain well.

We arranged 23 different types of plants in a pleasing design. Not all succulents can survive in Napa County's lowest temperatures, so these plants were chosen for not only their low water needs but their compatibility with temperatures and sun/shade ratio.

We now have a wonderful succulent/dry garden to use as an example of a low-water landscape that is interesting and beautiful. We hope you agree with the with the reasons and the advantages for planting a succulent/dry garden of your own.

Napa Master Gardeners are available to answer garden questions by email: mastergardeners@countyofnapa.org. or phone at 707-253-4143.  Volunteers will get back to you after they research answers to your questions.

Visit our website: napamg.ucanr.edu to find answers to all of your horticultural questions.

Photo credits: Octopus Agave https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agave_vilmoriniana_(Scott_Zona)_001.jpg

 

Coral Aloe https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coral_Aloe_(Aloe_striata)_(31710241744).jpg

Black Rose Aeonium https://www.flickr.com/photos/aliarda/20711408255

Rock purslane https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=281365&picture=pink-purslane-flowers-close-up

Information links:

UC Master Gardener Napa County-Adapting your garden to climate change https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=38783

San Mateo/San Francisco Counties-putting in a succulent garden https://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu/Elkus/Planting_a_succulent_garden/

Santa Clara County-Succulents https://mgsantaclara.ucanr.edu/garden-help/succulents-care/

San Mateo/San Francisco Counties-putting in a succulent garden https://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu/Elkus/Planting_a_succulent_garden/

Santa Clara County-Succulents https://mgsantaclara.ucanr.edu/garden-help/succulents-care/