3 to 4 (7.6 to 10.2 cm) of growth room is required beneath sedum mats. A base of 3 to 4 (7.6 to 10.2 cm) of green-roof growing media, a unique mixture that allows for drainage, was advised.
I placed standard garden soil overtop instead, as advised by a nearby nursery that also happens to sell the sedum mats, because there was grit underneath the patio stones.
1. Arrange each tile of the sedum mat such that it firmly abuts the mat next to it or the sides of whatever your border is.
2. Trim any pieces that don’t fit the area with the dirt knife. Turn the tile so that the trimmed edge isn’t on the outside. The outer border will preserve that wild, natural look that spills over the edges a little bit, while the inner trimmed edge will match smoothly against the other tile.
3. Water your sedum mats thoroughly every day until the plants take root.
How is a sedum mat grown?
Sedum mats are one of our nursery’s greatest multi-taskers, so we’re happy to welcome them to our virtual greenhouse for the first time. Each mat is produced from a species of sedum that is densely planted and has a range of colors and forms, offering a creative solution to various gardening problems. The mats are perfect for unique places like vertical wall plantings, green roofs, and rock gardens since they are easy to customize and maintain. The lightweight coconut fiber in which the sedum plants are rooted is excellent for airflow and water retention, making the mats perfect liners for open planters like the hayrack in the picture above.
Karen C., a plant buyer, says: “Because the sedum mats are pre-planted and cultivated in a soil/netting media, they are incredibly versatile and may be grown in any direction. Additionally, the variety of plants allows them to tolerate different light conditions, but full sun is ideal. Sedum can tolerate low moisture levels, but it should never be allowed to dry out completely. Simply cut your sedum mat to the appropriate size with garden shears, then set it sedum-side down in the container to use it as a living liner for a rack or basket. You are now prepared to plant after adding a layer of dirt on top. The sedum then holds onto the water while providing enough of drainage and aeration.”
Who should plant Sedum?
Sedum is a plant that should be planted by everyone with a sunny garden and an eye for texture. Sedum plants are simple perennials that inexperienced gardeners with lots of sun may grow. Sedum comes in many different types, which gardeners who are looking for drought-tolerant plants for their landscape will undoubtedly want to include.
Where does Sedum grow best?
Succulent plants are sedum. Plants known as succulents store extra moisture in their stems, leaves, and roots. Similar to most succulents, sedum needs dry soil because of how they store moisture. Sedum grows best in areas of your landscape that receive full sun and have soil that drains well. Despite having an exotic appearance, sedum may be cultivated in a variety of regions and many varieties are winter-hardy.
How to grow Sedum?
Sedum is frequently planted bare root or from potted plants. You can also introduce extra sedum to different areas of your yard by dividing it from an established planted area. Sedum is also frequently planted from leaf cuttings, however this method grows sedum in the landscape considerably more slowly. Sedum are succulent perennials that are best planted from pots or bare roots. The range of perennials and bulbs offered by Holland Bulb Farms now includes bare root sedum.
Sedums can be planted from bare roots from spring through summer since they can withstand hot and dry conditions. You can plant bare root sedum directly into the ground. Bare root sedum can also be started in pots and then moved to the ground once the top growth has become more established.
Sedum roots should be planted just below the soil’s surface. The soil should be at or slightly above the level of the crown of the roots, which is where all the roots converge and the plant will grow. When planting, spread the roots out and make the hole a little broader than it is deeper.
Do all Sedum spread?
In sunny areas like rock gardens, sedum are frequently planted as a ground cover. Not all sedum types, nevertheless, are planted as ground covers. Sedums that grow uprightly, such as Frosted Fire Sedum, Powder Puff Sedum, Night Embers Sedum, and Autumn Joy Sedum, do not spread. These upright types will maintain a tidy appearance and have a habit of clumping or mounding.
Rock gardens and boulder walls frequently contain ground cover sedum species as Dazzleberry Sedum, Firecracker Sedum, and October Daphne Sedum. These creeping sedum varieties are entertaining plants to include in a pot. Wherever you want the foliage to hang over the side of the pot, you can plant a variety of creeping sedum. I have a few planters with animals in them, including owls and frogs, and I used sedum to give them the appearance of hair.
How fast does Sedum spread?
When planting perennials, it is often advised to wait until their third year before planting them. When you plant ground cover sedum in your garden, this is true. The sedum may need up to three planting seasons to fully grow up and cover the space.
Do Sedum have flowers?
Sedum have unique foliage, and people frequently plant them for their texture and color. However, many sedum cultivars produce spectacular flowers in the middle to end of summer. Yellow, white, pink, purple, and other hues of sedum blossom. They are garden treasures with enduring seasonal interest because of the combination of their bright flowers and vibrant leaves.
Autumn The most popular upright sedum cultivar is Joy Sedum. It requires little maintenance and blooms in the late summer that are rosy pink before changing to rosy red in the early autumn. Little Miss Sunshine Sedum is a low mound-forming sedum that blooms in mid- to late summer with vivid yellow flowers. This low-growing sedum type does well in a rock garden as well as at the front of a planting area. Another low mound-forming sedum type with a summer-long cover of white blooms is called Bundle of Joy. The distinctive variety Super Star Sedum has vivid pink flowers on frosted green foliage. It looks beautiful planted in front of a garden border and maintains a great mound habit.
Are Hens and Chicks a variety of Sedum?
Unique succulents called Hens and Chicks are frequently offered with sedum. These low-growing, rosettes-producing plants belong to the Sempervivum genus, not Sedum. Hens and Chicks are not sedum, despite the fact that they are frequently planted and sold together. They look attractive when planted in rock gardens, planters, and boulder walls and may thrive in hot, dry climates. Hens and chicks perform best when planted in full sun with well-draining soil and are hardy in zones 3 to 8.
Where should you plant sedum?
Sedums have everything! This perennial produces clusters of star-shaped flowers that bloom from midsummer to fall, along with lush, luscious green leaves. It attracts pollinators and is simple to maintain. How to plant sedum in your garden is provided here.
About Sedum
Sedum, a genus of succulents with fleshy stems and succulent leaves commonly known as “stonecrop,” is one of the easiest perennial plants to grow. This sedum cultivar is suitable for practically all gardens because it is a hardy plant that thrives in shallow soil.
Based on how the plants develop, we like to split sedum into two primary categories: low-growing sedum and upright sedum.
- Sedum that grows slowly spreads throughout the ground and only grows to a height of a few inches (or less). As a result, they are ideal for use as ground covers along pathways, in rock gardens, or cascading over stone walls.
- Sedum that is tall or upright often grows in tall, upright clumps with dense clusters of tiny reddish-pink flowers in their huge flower heads. They make excellent candidates for border gardens or pollinator gardens due to their height and lovely blossoms. Despite upright sedum’s recent reclassification into the Hylotelephium genus, it is still frequently referred to as a “sedum.”
Although they prefer full sun, Sedum may tolerate partial shade. Plant sedum in full sun to enhance overwintering potential if you live somewhere with long, cold winters (Zone 5 and colder).
Although sedum thrives in sandy or poor soil, it needs to be well-drained to prevent fungus problems. If cultivated in soil that retains too much moisture, it is highly prone to developing root rot. Additionally, overly fertile soil can promote lanky growth, which can cause upright sedum species to bloom with a top-heavy appearance.
When to Plant Sedum
- Typically, sedum is purchased in plugs or pots and then planted in the garden. Sedum is best planted in the spring, after the risk of frost but before the summer heat arrives.
- In early spring, sow sedum seeds in average to rich soil that is well-drained. (Learn more about adding amendments to the soil and getting it ready for planting.)
How to Plant Sedum
- Depending on the kind, space plants anywhere between 6 inches and 2 feet apart. While upright sedums tend to keep more compact, low-growing sedums will quickly fill in any gaps.
- When planting whole plants or divisions, dig a hole deep enough so that the top of the root ball is level with the soil’s surface. Then, insert the plant, and then cover the area around it with soil. Avoid burying upright sedum stems in particular as this can cause rot.
- Planting cuttings: Sedum is easily propagated through cuttings, just like other succulents. Under the right lighting and watering conditions, the cutting should easily root if the cut end is simply inserted into the soil.
- Sedum plants require little maintenance once they are established. Check on your plants frequently over the summer to make sure they are not getting too dry, and water them (sparingly) if necessary. Sedum shouldn’t require extra watering if your area receives rain at least one every two weeks.
- After flowering, prune the plants to keep their shape or confine them to a single location.
- Advice: After blooming, leave upright sedum flowers alone for more winter interest. They will produce lovely seed heads.
- To stop your plants from spreading, remember to divide them in the spring or fall. Divisions and cuttings root easily all summer long.
- Sedum humifusum has stunning, bright yellow flowers and produces an excellent ground cover.
Sedum spreads quickly, right?
Sedums can survive in less-than-ideal environments, therefore the author covers a stone wall with a variety of them (identified in chart below).
A creeping sedum may be the ideal plant for you if you want something attractive that can survive with almost complete neglect. Sedums show off where many other plants would be afraid to tread. For instance, they settle in the crevices of a garden wall or pathway, on roofs or the tops of birdhouses with slightly sloping roofs, or even under huge trees where their gigantic roots control the majority of the soil’s moisture. Additionally, they function well in borders, containers, and rock gardens.
Many gardeners have started looking more closely at plants in the genus Sedum as seasonal and protracted droughts become more frequent across the United States. The ground-hugging relatives of Sedum ‘Autumn Joy,’ which is well-known for its late russet blooms, are also gaining popularity.
In my yard, creeping sedums, often called stonecrops, provide endless fascination. Over the course of my many years as a gardener, they rank among the most adaptable, drought-tolerant, and simple-to-grow perennials I’ve ever grown. Sedums really require less work from a gardener as their area grows. These slow-growing plants, which are renowned for their propensity to spread swiftly, prevent weeds from taking root. Since they eventually just fade away, it is not required to deadhead the spent blooms, but it is simple to get rid of old blossoms using a string trimmer. They rarely contract illnesses or pests as long as they aren’t overwatered.
Even the poorest soil may support sedums, and small amounts of soil are really their preferred medium. However, the key to cultivating them is proper drainage. A sedum will be quickly killed by excessive wetness, especially standing water, which will accomplish what no drought can.
Even in the driest conditions, sedums practically never need further water after they are established. Sedums function admirably almost anyplace as long as they receive proper drainage, but they are particularly well suited for gardens in hot, arid regions like the western United States. They can also be found sticking up from boulders or sprouting from only a few inches of scree in cold, alpine environments where they are widespread. For almost every USDA Hardiness Zone, there is at least one Sedum species. The majority of creeping sedums can tolerate little shade but prefer full sun. Native to North America, Sedum ternatum is one sedum that prefers shade and a little bit more moisture than its relatives.
Creeping Sedums
Hardiness: The Northern Hemisphere’s Sedum genus has more than 400 species of succulent annuals, perennials, biennials, subshrubs, and shrubs. Sedums are commonly grown as creeping ground coverings. Each USDA Hardiness Zone has at least one species that can withstand it. Most thrive in Zones 4 through 9. OUTLINE: Five-petaled flowers in shades of yellow, white, or pink lie above mats of succulent leaves that range in color from green to blue-gray to reddish bronze. In the winter, the leaves of evergreen species take on colours of crimson and russet. PROPAGATION: From spring to midsummer, propagate plants by division or seed in the spring or fall. Plant in rock gardens, walls, recesses in walkways, and pots. You may also use it as a border edging or in sweeps on slopes. The majority of creeping sedums like full sun, although they can also tolerate little shade. They prefer medium to poor garden soil that drains well; once they are established, no additional watering is required. They cannot endure any amount of time in standing water.
The author’s favorite sedums
Except for S. ternatum, all of these exceptional sedums prefer full sun or mild shade. The numbers in the chart that come before the name in the image below provide a key.
First S. album
2. S.’s “Murale” album
S. divergens 3.
S. ewersii 4.
S. kamtschaticum (5)
S. kamtschaticum (6)
S. reflexum 7. (S. rupestre)
‘Rose Carpet’ 8.
S. sexangulare 9.
S. spurium, “Fuldaglut” 10.
S. spurium “John Creech,” 11.
S. stenopetalum 12.
S. ternatum 13.
Creeping sedums change from season to season
Creeping sedums are attractive for their dependability and lack of fussiness, but I’m also drawn to them for their succulent leaves, lengthy flowering cycles, and, in some cases, year-round attractiveness in the garden. Sedum blooms often come in little, star-shaped clusters that range in color from white to yellow to purple to pink, and are no larger than an inch in diameter and 4 to 5 inches tall. The carpets of blossoms they generate when planted in large numbers are stunning. Many evergreen sedums, such as Sedum album “Murale” and Sedum stenopetalum, blush to a rich red or bronze color in the fall and even throughout the winter. These stunning contrasts to an otherwise inert landscape last until early spring. They look particularly lovely on a snowy background.
One of the simplest plants to grow from seed, cuttings, or divisions is the sedum. Stem cuttings or divisions will guarantee the maintenance of a plant’s traits once you’ve found one you like because sedums don’t always grow true from seed. Sedums spread quickly, yet they are not invasive. They are easily lifted and transported because of their thin roots. As long as there is adequate drainage, they may survive the winter in most planters and come out of dormancy in the early to midspring.
I complained as I pulled boulders from the cultivated sections of my father’s fields as a young child working on the family farm in northeastern Maryland. In a fitting irony, decades later I still wander the same fields looking for fascinating stones to use as backdrops and accents for my ever-growing collection of sedums.
A few ways to use creeping sedums
Sedums that are resilient make lovely staples. In a section of my rock garden, I utilize a lot of sedums to simulate a cascade. You can blend several sedums, such as the white-flowered Sedum album, the S. grisebachii, and the yellow-flowered Sedum sexangulare (foreground, first photo below) (background). They perform well in a region that can be seen from above.
These year-round, low-maintenance plants are ideal for containers. You won’t need to bring the pots indoors for the winter because creeping sedums do well in containers. Additionally, because of their drought tolerance, you won’t need to locate someone to water them while you are away. Sedums, like the yellow-flowered S. sexangulare (Sempervivum spp. and cvs., Zones 410, second photo below), can be used as underplantings or in combination with other succulents like hens and chicks.
Make stepping stones or rock walls’ sharp edges softer. Within cracks in a stone wall or between stepping stones, sedums, like S. spurium ‘Fuldaglut,’ grow with almost no soil (third photo, below). Use small, mature seedlings, usually referred to as plugs, and combine with some fine gravel and soil.
Utilize a patchwork of sedums to tame a difficult terrain. Maybe you have a spot where gardening and lawn mowing have never worked well together, like a hillside with compacted soil. It might be the perfect place to use creeping sedums, like the pink-flowered S. spurium ‘John Creech’ and others, to intertwine regions of color and texture. The “quilt will vary three times a year as the sedums exhibit the colors of their early-season foliage, then their blossoms, and finally their winter leaves in various tones.