Succulent Planting Time in Northwestern U.S.
If you’re willing to devote a little extra time (sometimes a lot) to them, northwest succulent gardens are possible. They’re more unusual too, because you won’t find one on every corner. You may also devote your planting skills to making wreaths and various arrangements that you can move around to protect them during the rainy seasons. Of course, you may plant new succulents as you purchase them, but the best succulent planting time in northwestern U.S. is in spring. Planting in late summer or early autumn also allows time for plants to develop a healthy root system. Learning when to plant succulents in the northwest mainly depends on when you can find dry days and dry soil. This is true for containers and also for prepared garden beds, but try to find a time when it is not raining to do the planting – which is often easier said than done with the ongoing rain in the area. Some experts who grow succulents there say to purchase plants in April and May, when the selection peaks.
Creating a Northwest Succulent Garden
Several succulents and cactus can survive the temperatures here, but it is the moisture that causes problems. Rain and snow cause destruction of these plants quickly when it lingers on the roots. Gardeners from this area advise working up the top 3 feet (.91 m.) of soil in your garden bed to make a fast-draining mixture. Amended soil this far down does not allow the roots of your succulent plants to remain in water. Once your succulents are planted, add a top dressing of more gravel. Soil amended with pumice, crushed stone or other materials that make it drain quickly and provide air circulation is needed by the plants. Put your plants into a mound of these materials for further protection. Plant delosperma, sedums, and sempervivums for starters here. Research other specimens that are known to thrive in the area. Some varieties of Sedum spathulifolium and other broadleaf stonecrop are native to Oregon and a good choice for the bed or container in the northwest garden. Again, provide good drainage whether growing in a container or the ground and enjoy succulents in the northwest.
