Laura Eubanks' Succulent Garden Design Secrets

Garden designer Laura Eubanks of Design for Serenity creates a jewel box succulent garden by grouping plants to create a mosaic look, and adding swirls of lava rocks. She says that rocks from pebbles to boulders are as important as the plant material.
Video by garden photojournalist Debra Lee Baldwin, author of three books about succulents and their uses in landscapes and containers. debraleebaldwin.com
RELATED INFO
Go to the Laura Eubanks Playlist on Debra's channel and see Laura's designs in Debra's books
See Laura Eubanks' own channel on KZbin. Website: www.designforserenity.com.
ONLINE SUCCULENT SOURCES
- Mountain Crest Gardens: mountaincrestgardens.com/?aff=19
-- Altman Plants: shopaltmanplants.com?aff=8
-- Leaf & Clay: bit.ly/2SbKemg
BOOKS BY DEBRA LEE BALDWIN
- Designing with Succulents (mainly about in-ground gardening), amzn.to/2M7bBig
- Succulents Simplified (good overview for beginners), amzn.to/2Ewil2I
- Succulent Container Gardens, amzn.to/2VZvGeE
CONNECT WITH DEBRA
--Facebook: @DebraLeeBaldwinOfficial
--Instagram: @debralbaldwin
--Website: debraleebaldwin.com
--BluPrint classes: www.craftsy.com/gardening/cla...
--Newsletter: Subscribe at debraleebaldwin.com
--KZbin: kzbin.info_c...
ABOUT DEBRA
Award-winning garden photojournalist and bestselling author Debra Lee Baldwin shares know-how about “plants that drink responsibly” in print, photos, videos and her “Celebrating the Joy of Succulents” newsletter. Debra is based in Southern California, home to more succulent specialty nurseries and growers than anywhere else in the world.

[@JamesEndo1]

OMG! A beautiful and younger Laura Eubanks rocking it (no pun intended!) back in the day already!!! Well done ladies!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Indeed, James, back in the day, LOL.

[@JamesEndo1]

@@QueenofSucculents you two are the dynamic duo!!!😍

[@QueenofSucculents]

@@JamesEndo1 Actually, high-energy Laura can run circles around me. But thanks!

[@botanicaltreasures2408]

Red lava rocks can serve as a durable mulch to protect plants from temperature extremes. After I started using them, I noticed some of my neighbors following suit.

[@tamiweir61]

I live in Oregon in the valley. It's so wet here I have to bring my succulents in for the winter. It's so nice you can grow yours outside.

[@HeidiJohnson01]

Just beautiful!

[@ElizabethNinanDr]

wonderful pleasing to the eyes . thank u

[@thesimplesucculent1179]

Beautiful!!!

[@RuthiesSucculentObsession]

I just made my first small aeonium and succulent tapestry. I love videos because they gove great inspiration for my garden. Thanks for sharing😊👍❤.

[@QueenofSucculents]

You're very welcome, Ruthie. Thanks for commenting!

[@multiblanca100]

Muy bonito!❤️

[@raton_garden]

Hare Krishna. so beautiful planting good job 🎉🎉❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[@QueenofSucculents]

So nice of you!

[@theodorehammond9049]

Very nice. I have been holed up in a little room for the past 15 years. I am an 18 year survivor of cancer (metastatic melanoma) and now I am being asked to leave by my landlord. Before I was attacked by cancer I had a wonderful cactus and succulent collection. Continued below, I got long winded.

[@QueenofSucculents]

Plants can be good friends. But so can your online community, Theodore (Teddy?). Hang in there.

[@pamelasimpson6573]

This was so helpful!

[@jenelljurado8500]

Wow LOOK HOW GREAT LAURA LOOKS!!!! I stumbled across this page....

[@QueenofSucculents]

Yep, she's a babe!

[@StanTheObserver-lo8rx]

Is that what she looks like? On her own channel she's always in baseball cap,aviator sunglasses and overalls. You and her,two of the prettiest gals who really know plants on the youtube!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Yes, Laura's quite pretty and her three adult daughters are gorgeous. As for me, it's all smoke and mirrors...but thank you, Stan. You have a hug coming if we ever meet.

[@teeser2436]

Look so beautiful!!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thank you!!

[@Json219]

I really like your showing about Succulent Garden Design Secrets Debra Lee Baldwin, Supper Ideas

[@mariabetanialopes3992]

Amo muito O!!

[@SoutheastSucculents]

Thanks Debra and Laura...I hope one day to do a planting like this! -Kurt

[@QueenofSucculents]

Kurt Straudt Hi, Kurt, coming from you, high praise indeed!

[@christakauke4793]

Abbrechen

[@dalenedrinning9112]

LOVED VIDIO THANKS SO MUCH SO BEAUTIFUL AND DIFFERENT LOVED💓🌄

[@theodorehammond9049]

I swept the San Francisco county fair one year of practically all their blue ribbons, just like I had shown up, out of the blue. It was the only year I exhibited. Getting to the point, I am moving to the country after being thrown out in the cold and one of the things I most look forward to is starting another cacti and succulent collection! I hope this works out alright.

[@fabiodeleoterioodonto.rumo3975]

maravilhoso, estou descobrindo agora essa beleza das suculentas, depois de 3 anos trabalhando em manutenção de jardins empresariais, um dos gerentes me pediu um trabalho com suculentas e pesquisei no youtube, descobri seu video, fiz um trabalho simples que eles gostaram muito, agora estou pensando em encher minha casa com essas plantas. parabéns pela sua arte!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Fabio Deleoterio Muito obrigada pelas boas palavras. As suculentas são incríveis! Se você vive perto de São Paulo, deve ir pra Holambra em duas semana pra assistir a clase de Laura Eubanks. Faz click neste link: floraldesign.com.br/como-criar-um-jardim-com-plantas-suculentas/ Boa sorte com tudo, Fabio!

[@fabiodeleoterioodonto.rumo3975]

moro o 30 minutos de holambra.

[@netogrimald]

Gracias, precioso jardín. Las plantas suculentas son de las más bonitas, africanas ó americanas. El contraste de colores y armonía de los espacios, es genial... Con los cactus, agaves y yucas tienen una combinación que parece muy 'de casa', desde Texas hasta Querétaro, México... 1000 kms. del desierto chihuhuense. La importancia de las rocas fue descrita en las pinturas de paisaje, desde el Realismo del siglo XIX. No deben faltar en un jardín. las grandes atrás y si tienen lagartijas mejor... :)

[@McFraneth]

Pero rocas grandes chupan el calor por el dia y lo saltan por la noche! Para mi rocas en un clima calido es un gran NO. Prefiero mucho mas plantar para sombra.

[@clairerodin2070]

Love this!! I just got a ton of succulents and for rocks I was really interested in using some red lava rocks too! do you know what kind of pebbles were used? they are so colorful and seem unique

[@QueenofSucculents]

Pebbles vary from region to region and from supplier to supplier, but chances are you can find something similar at a retailer in your area that specializes in rock and gravel.

[@babybear4524]

absolutely beautiful. I am in the process of creating a succulent landscape after having taken out my grass. Where did you find such large healthy plants or were they all small when you bought them? Did you have to use a special crane type lifter to place the rocks? i fell in love with a few 500lb. rocks but omg how do you get them where you want them and decide because that spot isnt going to change after its placed. Also I bought alot of ground cover and ice plant which I assume will take over in time. Do you suggest I do more with just small rocks as you have and limit the areas of ground cover? I love all the artistic decor elements and have a great place to buy them nearby. How do I decide on the color and size of the rocks and is place and gray ok to use or is it better to use reds and pinks ? can I email you a pic of what I have laid out and you can help me before I put it into the ground this week? Lastly do I need to rototill the soil and blend in sand or palm soil or just focus on the areas where the plant will go and blend the soil there? What exact product and proportion do you suggest I use of sand and palm soil? Lastly how much water to you give the plants thru a drip system so I can set it up that way and not have to hand water.

[@QueenofSucculents]

+Baby Bear -- The large rocks were already there. But yes, when adding large boulders to a landscape, generally they have to be craned in. Laura bought the plants at local nurseries. Quite a few in the San Diego area sell succulents; I think the main one she used was Oasis Water Efficient Gardens.

[@shadow6742]

Laura any way you can come to Phillips Ranch "Pomona"..any create magic in my front yard?

[@sinnerorsaint4837]

NICE Succulent Arrangement

[@babybear4524]

Hi Debra,funny thing is that the day you suggested I get your book when you sent me a reply last,was the same day I was at a great little shop in old town Temecula and the owner was looking at your book and told me I need to get it...lol. She is always using it as a reference and likes that it shows landscape pictures as the plants change over time. I was wondering in the video above if wood chip mulch could or should be used instead of rock in any of the landscape. I am trying to create a similar look to what you have in the video and live in an hoa community. As I am converting the sprinklers to a drip system,one of my dilemmas is how many to convert to drip with 8 tubing outlets and how many to cap. How do you decide and determine,any suggestions? Also when it comes to rock color and coordinating boulders,pavers and smaller rocks,how do you make it all work? I did buy some beautiful boulders with pinks reds and browns so does that mean I should also use the same colors in the smaller rocks? I also see that jagged edge rocks and mulch and river rocks and gravel are sometimes all placed into one landscape. Any suggestions on how best to achieve the look you have in terms of where to use which rocks and choose color? Lastly I see that you have some tall grass like the african iris and so far I have purchased several of these plants,and while they are not yet in the ground,they seem to wilt often and need a lot of water. Are they really a drought tolerant plant and once planted will they stand straight,or do they always droop and become full of dead brown stalks? If so what else can I use to create that softness but omit these issues,perhaps the thick rubbery patches of another type of grass plant which has purple flowers. I forget the name but see this plant thriving throughout the region where I live. I thought perhaps it could offer a place for my small dog to rest. Do you have a suggestion of a soft non thorny plan where a dog can sit since I removed all the grass on my property? Thanks again. Debbie

[@QueenofSucculents]

Yes to wood chips, but they're not ideal; I'm not an irrigation expert (sorry); as for rocks, I prefer warmer tones but that's personal preference; yes, iris need more water; I think you're referring to purple fountain grass; for your dog plant mat-forming dymondia. For a good reference to help you overall, may I recommend my book, Designing with Succulents (2nd ed)? Modesty aside, it's hand's down the best book on succulent gardening and landscaping.

[@babybear4524]

Hi Debra, can you name a few taller succulent water efficient type plants for me that I can use in my landscape design here in Temecula? I have many shorter plants but feel that since I have a relatively flat property that I wont be able to get the variation in height and design that would look best. Do you have other suggestions on how to create height towards the back? Also since I am removing a large amount of rocks and clumps of clay soil I was wondering what combination of dirt you would recommend,if it should be all cactus soil or a combination of cactus and compost or top soil,or what exactly would you use to re-fill the ground to take up the space of the clay and rocks I removed? After that I was going to just use palm cactus soil in the actual holes I dig for each plant. Thanks

[@QueenofSucculents]

+Baby Bear Do you have my book, "Designing with Succulents"? It's all about in-ground landscaping with succulents, from soil prep to selecting and placing plants, and there's an entire chapter on companion plants for succulents---all of which would work well in your area!

[@gardeninggrandma5247]

Do you use landscaping fabric to prevent the rocks from sinking into the soil? Do you see that as a problem to the plants -- will it cause too much moisture? Thank you!

[@QueenofSucculents]

See my post: debraleebaldwin.com/succulent-how-to/should-you-use-weed-barrier-fabric/

[@AriseOZion]

What is the name of your leucadendron? It's gorgeous!

[@QueenofSucculents]

'Safari Sunset' (probably)

[@Yodasstuff]

How do you keep the weeds out? Isn't it hard to take weeds out if you have rocks on the and sharp cactuses next to each other?

[@QueenofSucculents]

Yodasstuff I don't like using chemicals on my garden, but one I wouldn't be without is pre-emergent herbicide, a granular weed preventer that stops seeds from germinating. I spread it everywhere I don't want weeds. Best time to apply it is BEFORE the rainy season (in Southern CA, in October). Any weeds that sneak through, I spray with Round-Up in the spring. As for weeding around cacti, I use long-handled tweezers.

[@nicole9386]

love this video! I just made a terrarium and succulent video on my channel also!

[@eekdcat2570]

A couple of years ago I acquired an aeonium hawarthii but now it's starting to look like an aeonium kiwi. Does one revert back to the other?

[@QueenofSucculents]

Eek D'cat I believe 'Kiwi' is the variegate of haworthii. Kiwi will revert to green if not given enough sunlight. Haworthii won't color up if given more, however.

[@eekdcat2570]

Debra Lee Baldwin Thank you for that taxonomical clarification. Does stand to reason that environment and exposure can dictate or trigger certain traits. Also I've noticed that with this single stem of Crosby's compact mini jade that I happened upon with tricolor features leaf propagation would give me plantlets with more solid traits(even the main stem's darker). So I was wondering if I was to cut into the leaf(away from the node) would this tap into the sort of chimeric pigmentation that would yield plantlets more like the parent stem? This plant's been pretty challenging for me but seems to be stabilizing alright for now. Maybe it's the time of year. I live in southern CA .

[@babybear4524]

Well I was inspired. I went to the rock yard and just bought some beautiful but small boulder pieces. How large of a boulder or rock do you suggest in order to create a pocket garden? I had no idea you can just add some soil and cut off the plant without any roots and stick it into the dirt. Does that always work and it survives?

[@QueenofSucculents]

Glad you found it inspiring. Re the survival of succulent cuttings...yes, they usually survive, providing the soil is friable enough for their roots to grow easily and they're kept out of hot sun, especially in summer.

[@QueenofSucculents]

Have a question on ANYTHING to do with succulents? Go to debraleebaldwin.com and browse the menu or use the Search bar. Btw, my site is not monetized---no annoying pop-up ads. It's my gift to my followers and the culmination of my career as a horticulturist/photojournalist specializing in succulents. You'll find 100+ pages of tips and ideas; thousands of photos and must-know facts for specific varieties; curated design ideas for gardens, landscapes and containers; interviews with experts; seasonal info; and much more. Use the site as a research tool that also is entertaining---the same goals as my KZbin videos. Comments welcome! P.S. Laura Eubanks says: "Debra's passion and expertise are unsurpassed in the world of succulents. She demystifies these plants so you can grow, collect and create with confidence."

[@johnowles8324]

What is the large toothed like leaf at 1:23

[@QueenofSucculents]

Century plant (Agave americana)

[@johnowles8324]

@@QueenofSucculents thanks

[@Chelsea_Ramos]

what is that rainbow tree looking plant?

[@QueenofSucculents]

Can you be more specific?

[@AtheistCook]

That is a fire stick or pencil tree

[@johnowles8324]

I’m looking for a plain (not spotted) Aloe Vera

[@QueenofSucculents]

It's not a spotted species.

[@catger8107]

Hi

[@anthonycapate7864]

Kyut

[@Numa3223]

There is no volume

[@margaritaescalante5866]

I have a problem with rabbits in the Arizona High desert! They eat all my succulents!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Oh no! I've noticed that this is often a problem where larger predators (coyotes mainly) are controlled by municipalities and homeowners associations.

[@almaemken8616]

Kleine Brunnen im Garten

[@richardirenaateliersebvide5529]

.

[@phong19tran71]

Cty khác ứng dụng trên máy ảo fan gạo Facebook là mạng di động sexy máy tính sẽ không Bvlgari mà còn

[@McFraneth]

Stones bounce back the heat! Much better to plant trees for shade, like mulberries, false pepper, mimosa, tamarisk, jacaranda, catalpa, flame tree, etc. I think paths should be where the stones are, not the beds. Close planting and shade is key, IMHO. Oh, and hedges such as pittosporum, for its fragrant white flowers and its resistence to salt-laden air. I think a garden baked by the sun is impossible to enjoy for a good ten hours of the day in summer, which is a shame. I really do think in the first year planting trees should be the big priority, and deciduous trees to not have the light blocked out in the winter months.

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thank you. All good suggestions, especially in climates where you can give those trees the water they need.

[@leetravathan]

The designer featured here does not like trees much at all. :-(

[@QueenofSucculents]

@@leetravathan True, because trees drop a lot of leaf litter and it's hard to keep a highly designed garden looking good. But trees have their place, in fact, I have a video, "How and Why to Add Trees to Succulent Landscapes" (6:31).

[@shoulders-of-giants]

This is nice, but overall too much.