48 Amazingly Beautiful Succulent Garden Ideas

amazingly beautiful succulent garden ideas cover

Succulents are an exotic and eye-catching way to beautify your garden, whether used to create a colorful rock garden, a dramatic container arrangement, or even a work of art to hang on an outdoor wall. Succulents are also tough and resilient, preferring neglect rather than constant attention. You don’t need a green thumb to grow succulents successfully. By recreating growing conditions similar to their native habitats, your succulents will flourish and even propagate on their own with minimal interference. Here are some tips for getting your succulent garden off to a good start.

Protect Succulents From Extreme Temperatures

If you plan to grow your succulents outdoors, be aware that only a few varieties can withstand below-freezing conditions. And although most succulents like sun and heat, some desert environments can be too extreme. For mild climates, there are a number of reliable succulents that can tolerate outdoor conditions year-round.

a bold and lush desert garden with large succulents, cacti posts, agaves and large rocks is a fantastic space with bold landscaping

a bold and lush desert garden with large succulents, cacti posts, agaves and large rocks is a fantastic space with bold landscaping

a bold desert garden with rocks and cacti in them, agaves and succulents is a stylish and catchy solution with a boho feel

a bold desert garden with rocks and cacti in them, agaves and succulents is a stylish and catchy solution with a boho feel

a bold succulent garden with oversized succulents and agaves in light and bold green, light yellow and purple pieces is a very catchy didea

a bold succulent garden with oversized succulents and agaves in light and bold green, light yellow and purple pieces is a very catchy didea

a bright layered desert garden in various shades of green and purple plus touches of red

a bright layered desert garden in various shades of green and purple plus touches of red

a colorful mini garden in rocks, with green, pale green, purple succulents and agaves and plants is amazing

a colorful mini garden in rocks, with green, pale green, purple succulents and agaves and plants is amazing

a colorful succulent garden with green, orange, purple succulents is a bright and fun idea for any climate that corresponds

a colorful succulent garden with green, orange, purple succulents is a bright and fun idea for any climate that corresponds

a cool desert garden with rocks and gravel, with usual, yellow and purple succulents, agaves is a catchy and cool idea

a cool desert garden with rocks and gravel, with usual, yellow and purple succulents, agaves is a catchy and cool idea

a gorgeous desert garden with green and burgundy succulents, cacti and an oversized agave is a fantastic idea to rock

a gorgeous desert garden with green and burgundy succulents, cacti and an oversized agave is a fantastic idea to rock

Don’t Give Them Too Much Sun

Not all succulents like to bask in the sun all day. The preferences are extremely variable among the thousands of varieties of succulents. Some like shade, some filtered light, some sun, and some blasting sun. As a generalization, most like at least two to three hours of sun or filtered sun a day. When growing succulents indoors, place them by a window or in a garden room where full sun is available for at least two or three hours a day.

a large post cactus is combined with large round succulents and agaves around

a large post cactus is combined with large round succulents and agaves around

a lively garden with grass, pale green succulents, a large agave and bright fuchsia blooms is a fantastic idea

a lively garden with grass, pale green succulents, a large agave and bright fuchsia blooms is a fantastic idea

a pretty and bright succulent garden with rocks and pebbles, pale green, bright green and purple succulents is a very interesting space

a pretty and bright succulent garden with rocks and pebbles, pale green, bright green and purple succulents is a very interesting space

a pretty and cool succulent garden with little succulents, a large rock, some large cacti and oversized agaves is super cool

a pretty and cool succulent garden with little succulents, a large rock, some large cacti and oversized agaves is super cool

a pretty and lush succulent garden with pale and bright green succulents, purple ones and some blooming succulents is cool

a pretty and lush succulent garden with pale and bright green succulents, purple ones and some blooming succulents is cool

a pretty mini succulent garden in bright and dark green, with bold orange blooms and some tropical plants is a cool and catchy idea

a pretty mini succulent garden in bright and dark green, with bold orange blooms and some tropical plants is a cool and catchy idea

a spectacular succulent garden with green, purple and orange succulents, bold blooms is a gorgeous idea to rock

a spectacular succulent garden with green, purple and orange succulents, bold blooms is a gorgeous idea to rock

Succulents Should Be Watered

Contrary to common belief, you won’t kill your succulents by watering them regularly, especially during the active growing season. The key is to wait for the soil to become dry between waterings so that the roots can breathe. If your succulents are thirsty, the leaves will look shriveled and lackluster with no shine. The signs of overwatering include stem or root-rot and mushy or yellowing leaves. Don’t forget, succulents are perfect for a low water garden.

a stylish front yard garden with pebbles and rocks, pale green and bold green plus red succulents is an amazing and chic idea

a stylish front yard garden with pebbles and rocks, pale green and bold green plus red succulents is an amazing and chic idea

a tree wrapped with lots of various succulents is a gorgeous idea for garden landscaping, and to save succulents from excessive sunshine

a tree wrapped with lots of various succulents is a gorgeous idea for garden landscaping, and to save succulents from excessive sunshine

a vintage run with various succulents including cascading ones is a cool decor idea with a touch of chic

a vintage run with various succulents including cascading ones is a cool decor idea with a touch of chic

a vintage stone bathtub with light green, bold green and purple succulents and some blooming ones is a very chic idea

a vintage stone bathtub with light green, bold green and purple succulents and some blooming ones is a very chic idea

a vintage stone bathtub with pebbles, light green, pale green and brown succulents is an amazing decor idea to rock

a vintage stone bathtub with pebbles, light green, pale green and brown succulents is an amazing decor idea to rock

accent your succulents in containers with colorful glass pebbles like these ones

accent your succulents in containers with colorful glass pebbles like these ones

an extra bold desert garden with pale and bold green, yellow and purple succulents and post cacti is amazing and fabulous

an extra bold desert garden with pale and bold green, yellow and purple succulents and post cacti is amazing and fabulous

Give Them The Right Soil

Succulents don’t like to have their roots sitting in wet soil, so it’s important to add sand or pumice to your soil mix to improve drainage. Other nonorganic materials that will help to loosen the soil include perlite, small gravel, crushed granite.

an eye-catching garden with peachy pink and green succulents and oversized agaves and some smaller red succulents

an eye-catching garden with peachy pink and green succulents and oversized agaves and some smaller red succulents

an eye-catching succulent garden with pebbles and a large rock, pale green, bold green and purple succulents  is amazing

an eye-catching succulent garden with pebbles and a large rock, pale green, bold green and purple succulents is amazing

bold and chic succulents combined with agaves in various shades of green and yellow

bold and chic succulents combined with agaves in various shades of green and yellow

bright yellow and green succulents, cacti and agaves are amazing to add a colorful touch

bright yellow and green succulents, cacti and agaves are amazing to add a colorful touch

colorful succulents in orange, green, purple and grey combined with some rocks for a cool look

colorful succulents in orange, green, purple and grey combined with some rocks for a cool look

combine different types and colors of succulents and pair larger with smaller ones

combine different types and colors of succulents and pair larger with smaller ones

combine several different textures, heights, sizes and colors to make your desert succulent garden more spectacular

combine several different textures, heights, sizes and colors to make your desert succulent garden more spectacular

even if you pair succulents with cacti, you should properly water the succulents accodring to the species you have

even if you pair succulents with cacti, you should properly water the succulents accodring to the species you have

go for large agaves as show-stoppers, add smaller succulents in various colors and textures

go for large agaves as show-stoppers, add smaller succulents in various colors and textures

Don’t Backfill After Planting

When planting succulents in the garden, dig a hole the size of the root ball and drop the succulent in. Then walk away from the plant! Don’t backfill or tuck the soil back in around the roots. Leaving this air gap allows the soil to slowly work its way back in around the roots at the same growth rate as the plant. This promotes the growth of new roots near the soil surface, where they can breathe. Most succulents don’t like a lot of organic material mixed or tilled into the soil near their roots because it can retain too much moisture.

large and bold rocks with pale and neutral succulents make up a cool and catchy desert garden

large and bold rocks with pale and neutral succulents make up a cool and catchy desert garden

mix up various succulents with larger and smaller pebbles and rocks for a more natural landscape

mix up various succulents with larger and smaller pebbles and rocks for a more natural landscape

plant oversized and bright succulents as centerpieces and rock smaller and paler pieces around

plant oversized and bright succulents as centerpieces and rock smaller and paler pieces around

rows of colored succulents and agaves paired with rows of rocks and pebbles are a cool idea for any desert garden

rows of colored succulents and agaves paired with rows of rocks and pebbles are a cool idea for any desert garden

smaller and larger succulents of various shades and looks combined to create a cohesive look

smaller and larger succulents of various shades and looks combined to create a cohesive look

statement green, purple and burgundy succulents paired with large rocks and smaller pebbles are a great combo for a garden

statement green, purple and burgundy succulents paired with large rocks and smaller pebbles are a great combo for a garden

stone pots like these ones will give an industrial feel to the space with a modern touch

stone pots like these ones will give an industrial feel to the space with a modern touch

stone steps, large rocks, small lights and large agaves and cacti are amazing for creating a desert landscape

stone steps, large rocks, small lights and large agaves and cacti are amazing for creating a desert landscape

Keep Them Well-Fed

All succulents and cacti need regular fertilizing because they don’t have extensive, deep root systems to seek out nutrient sources. Without adequate fertilizer, succulents will yellow, stop growing, and lose their beautiful luster and foliage colors that we love them for. Apply an all-purpose 15-15-15 fertilizer within a couple of weeks after planting succulents in the garden and then reapplying two or three times a year. For potted succulent plants, apply a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer monthly.

succulents come in many various colors, from various shades of green to burgundy and grey

succulents come in many various colors, from various shades of green to burgundy and grey

succulents line up the steps and rock steps add chic to the plants, especially bold grene plants between the steps

succulents line up the steps and rock steps add chic to the plants, especially bold grene plants between the steps

succulents may also be growing in the stones if they are large enough for that

succulents may also be growing in the stones if they are large enough for that

succulents may be very eye-catching and even show-stopping, in various shades and sizes

succulents may be very eye-catching and even show-stopping, in various shades and sizes

succulents may grow in drought but you'll need to water them properly anyway

succulents may grow in drought but you'll need to water them properly anyway

such container gardening is also a cool idea, mix up several different succulents in pots

such container gardening is also a cool idea, mix up several different succulents in pots

tree stumps with greenery, succulents and white blooms are amazing for a rustic garden space, they look natural and pretty

tree stumps with greenery, succulents and white blooms are amazing for a rustic garden space, they look natural and pretty

vary post and round cacti, in purple, grey, green and even yellow to create a perfect landscape

vary post and round cacti, in purple, grey, green and even yellow to create a perfect landscape

wild-looking desert garden with various kinds of cacti and succulents plus large rocks

wild-looking desert garden with various kinds of cacti and succulents plus large rocks