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Amazingly Low-Maintenance Picks for Outdoor Planters
Turn to succulents, cacti and ornamental grasses to keep your summer watering and care to a minimum
We are the mother and daughter behind the blog Design Chic (www.mydesignchic.com).
We are the mother and daughter behind the blog Design Chic (www.mydesignchic.com).... More »
Between the scorching summer sun and extended vacations, it's probably not a surprise when your outdoor plants start looking like they need a little love. Instead of paying the neighbor kids to keep your vegetation hydrated every time you hit the beach, rethink your landscape scheme to require less maintenance and be more sun tolerant and more in line with your carefree summer attitude.
The right plant picks can stand extended sunlight and a little neglect. Now you can save your plant guilt for ice cream!
The right plant picks can stand extended sunlight and a little neglect. Now you can save your plant guilt for ice cream!
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| For extra-hot outdoor conditions, extended vacations or people who just can't seem to keep a plant alive, succulents are a fantastic choice. Most survive quite well in full sun and require at least one to two hours per day of full sun. For larger planters or spaces that call for a taller plant, consider using American aloe or Parry Agave. |
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Aloe, scilla, gasteria and haworthia are a few examples of succulents that thrive in the hot, bright summer sun. If you're looking to increase the beauty of your outdoor scape, consider planting flowering Autumn Joy — which not only is pretty in its own right but also attracts butterflies.
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Succulents tend to need less water than most other outdoor plants. But be wary when using terra-cotta pots — they tend to dry out most quickly. To see if your plants need to be watered, place your finger a centimeter or two below the soil. If it's moist, no water is needed.
More fuss-free ways to garden
More fuss-free ways to garden
by Sandy Koepke
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Remember, many succulents thrive on neglect. Always err on the side of underwatering, not overwatering. If they look a little limp, then it's time to water.
Note: Some succulents are frost tender and may need a cover in cold weather.
Note: Some succulents are frost tender and may need a cover in cold weather.
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If you're really worried about your outdoor plants, a crate like this one does double duty. It looks great hanging on your wall, and you can always pull it down and take it with you. For succulents that do double duty, consider planting edible succulents. Yuccas, aloe vera, prickly pear and night-blooming cereus are all tasty varieties.
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If succulents aren't your thing, many green shrubs make for clean, easy-to-maintain outdoor planters. Boxwoods, for example, require afternoon shade and need to be pruned but require watering only every seven to 10 days — more often if you're having a scorcher.
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| Ornamental grasses are another good low-maintenance option for outdoor planters. They need to be cut back only once a year in the spring and, after the first year of growth, require very little water. They tend to thrive in areas of full sunlight. |
by MySunnyBalcony
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An outdoor scape like this one, where plants are divided into separate pots, is easy to maintain. When one plant begins to look a little wilty or in need of replacing, it's no problem to simply remove one without disturbing the others.
by Jamison Howard
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Topiaries are a simple way to keep your outdoor planters looking fresh. For a burst of energy during parties or special events, a brightly colored perennial around the base adds pizazz.
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| Make your succulent scheme even easier by ordering a prefilled planter. More: Great Succulents for Your Garden |
Ideabook published on July 17, 2012.
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Aloe vera was used in earlier times as a purgative ... an industrial strength laxative. Ar you sure you want to eat this?
Only the commercial "nopal" prickly pear variety has pads worth eating. The rest are too fibrous and many are bitter. Likewise with their fruit - most is barely edible.
As far as heat tolerance, apparently they survive quite well in Perth, Western Australia, which regularly gets high temperatures.
Frankly, if a tree can survive our gardening (Darwinian), it is likely to be extremely tough.
I love succulents!! Succulents often thrive where cacti don't. wroke: I live in Michigan and have lots of succulents: sedum, which come in an amazing variety of sizes (from under 2" to over 2 feet) and colors, and which also flower; "hens and chicks" (sempervivum - the circular, spiky, reddish plants in the third photo above); lots of others I don't know the names of but look just like the plants in these photos. I don't baby any of these in the winter and they all come back. My succulents have also all been extremely insect resistant - love that, since I don't use pesticides!