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Cacti and succulents-garden transformation
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Posted by JohnTW16 SW London (My Page) on Mon, Aug 8, 05 at 4:31
| I live in SW London near the Thames. My south facing grass covered front garden completely dries out each summer. I therefore want to convert it into a pebble covered area with areas of succulents and (hopefuly flowering)cacti. I plan to remove everything currently growing in the garden including the soil.
Does anyone know where I can source:
a)large quantities of cacti/succulent suitable soil
b) large cacti/succulents that would not only thrive in a south facing front garden but would survive a winter as well- covered if necessary.
Any advice gratefully received
thanks
John TW16
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Cacti and succulents-garden transformation
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| I would have said that all you need to do to the existing soil is add lots of sharp sand and grit or gravel. It is excellent drainage that is the most important point, although excess nitrogen should also be avoided. As regards plants, many large spiky succulent or succulent like plants can be grown outside with little protection, such as yuccas and beschornias. Large cacti is another thing as most will have been grown under glass or imported from warmer climates, and not aclimatised to our wet and cool climate. Smaller plants are much easier to get aclimatised. I should consult one of the cacti suppliers in the UK who grow their own plants, rather than sell imports, for advice on which to grow. I grow a few small "rebutia type" plants in the same way I grow sempervivums in shallow pans, and 3 out of 5 have survived the last 4 years so far. They flower very late compared with those in my frost free greenhouse, and have odd flowers out now. Brian |
RE: Cacti and succulents-garden transformation
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| All you need for the soil is some extra grit or gravel. If your soil drains well then just add an equal quantity of grit. If it doesn't drain well then add twice as much grit. Consider a raised bed if you have a flat garden so that the water can escape from the succulent area. Cacti like wet summers and dry winters. There are plenty that will survive the cold of our winters but almost none that will survive the wet. If you are really set on having a cactus or two, consider Opuntia. There are some which can survive in the open here. Opuntia compressa and O. humifusa are two good ones. If you are prepared to provide protection from most winter rain then there are dozens of cacti that are worth trying, but many are fairly small. Try Cleistocactus strausii, available from any B&Q, somewhere that is relatively warm and dry in winter. Look at "mediterranean" type succulents that like dry summers and wet winters. Yuccas do well, some Agaves can tolerate wet winters. There are many small succulent plants like Crassula, Sedums, Sempervivum, Delosperma, and Carpobrotus. There are plenty of other plants that are not strictly succulent, but will survive in the conditions you want, like Palms, Hesperaloe, Ceanothus, Abutilon, Cistus, or any mediterranean herb like Rosemary. There are also South African bulbs that will thrive in a warm well-drained garden, like Agapanthus, Chasmanthe, even good old Crocosmia. |
RE: Cacti and succulents-garden transformation
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| The worst combination is winter rain followed by a frost, followed by weeping and gnashing of teeth. If you have some way of extending the eaves of the house, or making a covered area with a glass roof or a clear hard plastic that doesn't degrade under UV then you could have that as a cactus area, perhaps with some elegant rocks to catch the heat and keep the area even warmer. A tilting roof...that locks into place but can be angled to let in rain when wanted... (OK. I'm dreaming. But on a small scale, perhaps.) Colourful pottery, dramatic posts, discreet frost blankets... Beyond you could put hardy succulents and things that also look the part such as Mediterraneans or Cordylines and the mounding Coprosmas. However, be excessively prudent about putting spiny things in any area prone to weeds. Until you have excavated glochids and spines from septic fingers you have no idea how miserable little prickles can make life. In the same league as Berberis. |
RE: Cacti and succulents-garden transformation
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| Many cacti do very well in the London region but there is always a risk. Raising the soil level a few inches is the best plan, adding sharp sand as already mentioned. Get the area as weed-free as possible then top dress with stones of your choice. A minimalist effect may be better here rather than trying to cram lots in. While the plants are small, the plot could be cheered up with a few containers. Strange as it may seem, the biggest problem will be slugs and snails, particularly with Opuntias. |
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