Considering the extreme heat that Georgia receives, succulent plants can be great for landscaping. These resilient plants require little maintenance and even less water. However, there are a few things you need to know before you make the decision to include succulents in your Summer landscaping. 

Benefits of Implementing Succulents in Your Landscaping

The most obvious benefit of including succulents in your Georgia landscaping is that they require very little water. They store water in their stems, roots, and leaves to help them survive in dry conditions. Your water bill will thank you because sprinklers are not required (and can actually be quite harmful) for succulent landscaping. Requiring less water means that succulents are also an environmentally sustainable option for your lawn, especially if the area you live in already has a relatively dry climate. Additionally, succulent plants are relatively low-maintenance. They require little pruning, and usually only require care if they become diseased. Finally, succulents are extremely sturdy plants. After all, they are native to dry areas where rarely any other plants are able to survive.

What to consider before planting succulents 

• Sun Exposure: As a general rule, succulents need at least six hours of sunlight exposure per day. However, this varies, so make sure to research the sunlight requirements for the plant(s) that you are interested in.
• Soil Drainage: Succulent plants require well-draining soil so that they do not retain too much water. Oftentimes, the Georgia red clay does not provide the necessary drainage, so it may need to be supplemented with rocks or sod. An easy way to tell if your soil is porous enough for succulents is to dig a hole that is one foot deep in your soil. If the water drains in 30 minutes or less, then the succulents you plant should do just fine. If not, you may need to do some additional landscaping.
• Cold Tolerance: If you include potted succulents in your outdoor landscaping, you should consider bringing them indoors during the colder months. Freezing temperatures can be pretty harmful to some succulents. Therefore, you should ensure the succulents you are interested in have the proper temperature tolerance for your area. 

How often should I water my succulent plants?

As a rule of thumb, you run a bigger risk of over-watering your succulents than under-watering them. However, you should look up your specific succulent to see how much water it requires and determine if it can handle your area’s annual rainfall levels. Succulents also have different water requirements depending on whether or not they are in their growing season. Another good rule of thumb is to only water your succulents when the soil is completely dry. Make sure to touch the soil before watering to see if the succulent has already collected all of the water. Over-watering can cause the plants to rot. 

How to Implement Succulents in Your August Landscaping

• Borders: Succulents can be used to create a fun border around pathways and edges of your lawn. 
• Rock Garden: Want to make a statement on your lawn? Transform a section into a gorgeous rock garden. Use a variety of succulent plants and boulders to create fun designs in your lawn. 
• Potted Succulents: Unsure if your lawn’s soil is suitable for succulents? Avoid the hassle and pot your succulents instead. Not only do potted succulents elevate the design of homes and gardens, they are also extremely easy to maintain.

Good succulents for Georgia climates

• Sedums: These hardy plants are perfect for Georgia climates because they can withstand freezing temperatures. 
• Aloe Vera: The aloe vera plant is known for its durability, making it perfect for growing in Georgia. This medicinal plant can be used for burns, skin sensitivities, and even cooking. 
• Jade: Jade plants are extremely hardy. The only thing that could potentially kill them is over-watering. Jade plants are also one of the most inexpensive plants to purchase and maintain in Georgia. 
• Crown of Thorns: Like most other succulent plants, the Crown of Thorns requires little water or maintenance. However, it doesn’t thrive in direct sunlight for long periods of time. Therefore, as long as you plant this succulent in an area where it can get some shade, it will flourish in your Georgia yard. 
• Snake Plant: If you are a beginner gardener and want a plant that is very difficult to kill, choose the snake plant. It is the easiest to take care of, and can survive weeks without water or sunlight. 

Trust Us To enhance your landscaping

P.O.P.S. Landscaping offers a full range of landscape maintenance services, tailored to meet your residential and commercial needs. We hope that these succulent ideas will inspire you to add beautiful succulents to your garden this summer – even in the heat! The more homes in one neighborhood we serve, the more competitively priced we can be on each property! P.O.P.S. also offers a full-service lawn maintenance program on an annual contract, weekly or biweekly service agreement. Turn your front yard into a beautiful landscape to enjoy the spring and summer seasons. It’s an investment that pays off and will raise the value of your home! Start the process and contact us today.