Designing Low-Maintenance Gardens with Aloes and Succulents

Posted on: May 13, 2025 in Blog by Deprecated: Function the_author was called with an argument that is deprecated since version 2.1.0 with no alternative available. in /usr/www/users/gregdezytu/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6170 Greg Dowsett

I am asked all the time by clients to design zero-maintenance gardens, and my response has always been that it’s simply not possible—much to the dismay on many of their faces. This request also usually comes with a desire for lots of colour, to which I sink my shaking head even lower. Traditionally, colour in a garden equates to flowers—and flowers usually equate to a lot of work.

Help is at hand though, in the form of succulents—or in Afrikaans, Vetplante (I just love that name; it’s so appropriate in its translation to “fat plants”)—named so because of how they store water in their leaves, making them appear “fat.” And therein lies one of their secrets to success. Like camels storing energy in their humps, succulents store water and nutrients in their leaves to carry them through long dry periods.

Gardening trends in South Africa have been leaning toward this style of gardening for a while now—and it’s easy to see why.

Why Succulents?

Drought Tolerance: Their ability to store water makes them ideal for low-water environments.
Variety: Available in a range of foliage and flower colours, forms, and textures, allowing them to blend well with grasses, perennials, and other leafy plants.
Low Maintenance: Most well-chosen succulents require only occasional maintenance.

Note: I speak generically about succulents. There are many families and species from around the world, so consider your garden’s growing conditions when choosing plants.

Design and Layouts

When designing with succulents or aloes, the same principles apply as with any garden. Most important is understanding the plant’s useful lifespan—not just its mature size, but when it looks its best. Once that’s understood, consider texture, colour, and form, and arrange combinations that complement each other.

Tip: Don’t overdo it—succulent gardens can look too busy. Sometimes less is more.

One major advantage is how easy succulents are to propagate and relocate, so mistakes are easily corrected even after the garden has matured.

Soil Preparation

Most succulents prefer well-drained soils. While loamy or potting soils work, they often rely on bark-based drainage, which isn’t ideal. Succulents thrive in sandy soil, which provides good drainage and root stability for their heavy water-filled leaves.

For clay soils, a good mix of compost and sand works well. For pots, I use potting soil mixed with silica sand (swimming pool filter sand), which adds friability and supports healthy roots.

Planting Preparation

Succulents are easily grown from leaves or cuttings, often requiring little more than placing them on soil. However, here are two key tips:

Let cuttings dry for a day or two before planting, to allow the cut area to callous over—reducing infection risk.
Do not fertilize unrooted cuttings. Fertilizer can encourage bacterial/fungal growth when roots are absent.

For rooted plants (e.g. in bags or pots), use a high-phosphate fertilizer like bonemeal, Bio Rock, or superphosphate before planting.

If relocating a rooted plant, treat it like a cutting: avoid fertilizer and watering until it settles, as it will be in a stress state and won’t absorb nutrients or water effectively.

Plant Combinations

Succulents and aloes pair beautifully with many plants. Here are some combos that work well:

Portulacaria afra & Euphorbia tirucalli
Sedum nussbaumianum & Ruschia linoleata
Echeveria spp. & Creeping Portulacaria
Aloe ferox / marlothii & Ngongoni grass
Aloe ferox & Crassula multicava
Aloe barberae & Dwarf Agapanthus

Ongoing Care

This is not a zero-maintenance garden. Succulents are drought-tolerant, not drought-proof. To keep them looking their best, they require occasional watering and feeding.

Use a monthly organic liquid fertilizer (e.g. Seagro).
Apply a high-power feed like 5:1:5 in spring to boost growth.
Water only when needed. If the soil is dry 5cm down for a few days, give a deep watering.
Avoid watering in humid or rainy conditions to prevent rot.

Pests and Disease

Most succulents are resilient, but be aware of:

Aloe kanker, caused by mites. Prevent with a systemic pesticide. Cut out and destroy infected growths.
Red spider mite, common in aloes with no supplementary water. Treat with root zone drenching using a product like Koinor.

There’s a world of intrigue in succulent gardening. Whether young or old, anyone can enjoy experimenting and growing these fascinating plants.

Happy gardening!

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