BC Home & Garden

home + garden » expert advice Q How can I arrange my furniture and opti- SUCCULENT SUCCESS How to plant a succulent container garden FRESHLY PLANTED (Top) Todd recommends packing succulents close together when planting to guarantee a full container the first season. (Middle) When planting succulents, interlock the plants like puzzle pieces and vary the texture, shape and colour. (Bottom) A succulent container in full bloom. Succulents, or fleshy plants that retain water in their leaves, are valued because they are easy to maintain and have a striking, architectural appearance. TODD HOLLOWAY, owner of container and landscape design company Pot Incorporated, shares a few simple tips on how to create your own luscious container. 1. Succulents fall into two categories: hardy or tender. For the beginner, try hardy genera, such as Sempervivum, Jovibarba and most Sedum. Certain types of Agave, Aloe and Opuntia are also a good choice if plants are outdoors yet under cover (and out of the reach of slanting winter rains) between October and April. 2. Ensure you have proper drainage. Select a container with several holes in the bottom. Use a 30/70 mix of drainage materials and high porosity, all-purpose potting soil. Drainage materials can include coarse sand, ¼-inch gravel, perlite or pumice. (A mix of several materials is best.) This ensures that your desert dwellers don't sit in water – a sure succulent killer. 3. When planting, pack plants close to together to guarantee a full container in the first season. Pull or cut out flowered portions after blooming. This allows for other plants to fill in. In future years, prune or remove straggly plant parts in early spring to keep things neat and tidy. 4. Use granular fertilizer at the time of planting. After the first year, use a diluted dose of liquid, all-purpose fertilizer two to three times in early to mid-spring to keep your plants looking perky during the March-through-September growing season. 5. Water your container once to twice a month during the summer months. 6. Be sure to keep your container in at least moderate sun most of the year.  mize seating in my bowling alley-like living room? SARAH GALLOP answers: Many condo and townhome owners face this problem. When decorating any small space, it is important to consider furniture pieces that are appropriate in scale and proportion. Large, overstuffed furniture makes the room feel cramped, where tailored pieces allow the space to feel open. Choose versatile furniture to maximize flexibility. Adding an ottoman with a tray on top gives you a coffee table that doubles as additional seating when the tray is removed. Choose accent chairs for your living room that can be used as end chairs at the dining table for dinner parties. To give your space a natural focal point, orient the main seating group around an architectural feature like a fireplace. Don't be afraid to create a smaller secondary seating group for a different purpose (i.e. a cosy spot to curl up with a good book). In some cases, placing a large piece of furniture parallel with the short width can make the room feel less like a bowling alley, as it creates a visual break and can segment the room into more square sections. Adding decor elements with reflective qualities, like mirrors, on the long walls will make the room feel wider. ■ See SOURCES on page 60 PHOTO (portrait) Michael Ford 56 | BC HOME & GARDEN April 2013 p54-57_AskTheExperts.indd 56 13-03-14 11:41 AM

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