How to Grow a Succulent Garden in Australia?

Have you ever wondered how to cultivate a thriving succulent garden under the Australian sun?

This article will guide you on how to grow a succulent garden in Australia, so that you can have access to the ornamental and water-saving benefits they bring.

Australia’s Climate and Soil Conditions

Australia’s Diverse Climate

Australia boasts a diverse climate ranging from arid to semi-arid, tropical to temperate. Each of these climates impacts plant growth slightly differently, especially when it comes to dry-loving succulents.

For instance, most succulents thrive in arid and semi-arid climates due to their ability to store water during dry periods. Areas with a lot of rainfall and humidity may present a struggle to some of the more sensitive succulents.

Australia’s Soil Types

Australia is home to a wide variety of soil types, including sandy, clay, silt, loam, and chalky soils. They can sometimes lack nutrients, have poor stability, and become sodic, hydrophobic or compacted.

Understanding the specific soil properties in your garden is of the utmost importance. Most succulents prefer free-draining soil, which is typically found in sandy and loamy areas.

They can also thrive in areas that other plants struggle, such as in rocky substrates and retaining walls. In contrast, clayey and peaty soils tend to retain water, which can lead to root rot in succulents.

Contrary to popular opinion, there are examples of succulents that can thrive in clay-dominant soils, including crassulas, dragonfruits and prickly pears. Remember that each succulent plant has its own “personality” with different likes and dislikes.

Choosing the Right Succulents for Your Garden

When choosing succulents, it’s important to understand that not all succulents are related – they are an example of convergent evolution where different species develop similar features independently.

While many succulents love free-draining soils and plenty of sunlight, there are always exceptions to the rule. Knowing the specific needs of the plant you’re specifying or purchasing is key.

Aesthetically, creating a beautiful succulent garden may not be difficult, but that doesn’t mean everyone can do it well. Without carefully complementing and contrasting different colours, shapes and textures, you may accidentally create a less-than-beautiful garden.

Carefully consider your space and what sort of shapes you’d like to include. Usually we want a few different layers – perhaps this could include the tall columnar shape of some cacti and euphorbias.

Then we can go for some shrubby shapes – crassula and saltbush are good contenders. Then we can opt for ground covers like pigface and sempervivum. And why not include a succulent climber over a trellised walkway, like a dragonfruit?

Native Australian Succulents

Australia has a diverse range of native succulents, such as Carpobrotus glaucescens (pigface), Portulaca cyclophylla, and Rhagodia (saltbush). While it’s often thought that native plants are universally better for the environment, this isn’t always the case.

There are many examples of exotics that cater to our indigenous fauna, while there are other examples of native plants that aren’t frequented very often. And vice versa. While most native succulent plants greatly benefit local pollinators and other fauna, they all have the potential to bring joy and add aesthetic value to a garden.

Exotic Succulents

There are also many exotic succulents that thrive in Australian gardens, such as Aloe spp., Echeveria spp., Crassula spp., and more. When cultivating these species (as well as natives), it’s important to be aware of potential issues like invasiveness and higher water requirements.

Cultivating and Caring for Your Succulent Garden

Planting Your Succulents

When planting your succulents, choosing the right location and preparing the soil correctly is the first step. Consider amending the soil to help with drainage, such as by replacing it with a cactus-friendly mix made with stuff like river sand, perlite, bark chips and compost.

While it’s easy enough to add clay to sand-dominant soils (especially kaolin clay), you should avoid trying to improve the drainage of clay-dominant soils with sand or gravel. This will make the situation much worse, as your soil becomes like concrete.

Succulents need adequate sunlight exposure and proper spacing to ensure healthy growth.

Watering and Feeding Your Succulents

Watering succulents requires a unique approach: infrequent but deep watering is usually the key. Checking soil moisture can help prevent overwatering, which is much more likely than underwatring.

Many succulents will let you know when they’re thirsty. Maybe their leaves will start to deflate a bit, or in some types maybe their leaf colour will dull (which can confusingly also be a sign of over-watering).

When it comes to feeding, most succulents benefit from regular fertilisation with a regular fertiliser. Be mindful that organic matter does change the soil properties. It can sometimes help with drainage, and at other times, can hold too much water for arid plants.

Pruning and Propagating Your Succulents

Pruning your succulents helps maintain their shape and size. It’s also an ideal time to propagate new plants. For a bushier shape to your succulent, prune the very tips off branches to encourage new lateral branches.

Or, remove longer branches to allow the shorter branches to have their time to shine.

Succulents can be propagated from cuttings, including stems and often leaves. After taking a cutting, you may want to place it on the ground to root itself, or give it a few days to scab over the pruning cut and then bury a stem cutting into the ground.

With some plants, such as aloes, you might want to remove spent flower heads after they’ve finished blooming.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Pest and Disease Management

Succulents, despite their resilience, can be susceptible to a number of pests and diseases in Australia. These include mealybugs, root rot, possum damage, aphids, scale insects, fungal infections, and bacterial soft rot.

Mealybugs are small, white insects that cluster on the leaves and stems of succulents, sucking sap and weakening the plant. They’re closely related to other sap-sucking insects that plague succulents including aphids and scale. Beetles, grasshoppers and other insects with chewing mouth parts can take chunks out of the foliage.

Generally, encouraging biodiverse insect populations can help control insect pests. Make sure there are lots of small flowers for generalist pollinators year-round, and a small dish of water you replace every few days to get rid of any mosquito larvae. You can also use a horticultural oil made from vegetable oil, dish soap and water which kills insect pests upon contact.

Possums, rats and other larger fauna can also cause damage by feeding on the leaves and stems of succulents. These can be harder to control, but not impossible. Physical barriers can work well, but may not be ideal in an ornamental setting. Blood and bone fertiliser deters many larger pests who smell death and avoid the space – until they realise that it’s totally safe and then will learn to ignore the smell.

Consider calling a pest professional if the problem gets out of hand.

Root rot is a catch-all term for a variety of fungal diseases usually caused by overwatering, leading to the decay of the plant’s root system. Plant varieties with similar watering needs together in the same bed and irrigate correctly to ensure every plant receives the right amount of water.

Make sure to conduct regular inspections of your plants to identify signs of pests or disease early. That way, they’re easier to control.

Daniel’s Wrap

Growing a succulent garden in Australia can be a rewarding experience, but it does come with its own set of challenges. From understanding the country’s diverse climate and soil conditions to choosing the right succulents and providing the appropriate care, there’s a lot to consider.

However, with knowledge of common pests and diseases, as well as strategies for overcoming climate challenges, you’ll be well-equipped to cultivate a thriving succulent garden. So, whether you’re an experienced home gardener, a landscape architect, or a professional landscaper, why not level up your succulent gardening journey today?

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