Succulent Slope Before & After: Ten Challenges and Solutions

If you garden on a hillside, no doubt you know how important it is to “work with nature," as designer Steve McDearmon advises. Doing so was his biggest challenge in landscaping this steep, street-side garden north of San Diego.
The land’s susceptibility to erosion, plus its length and grade, made access and installation difficult. As their budget permitted, the homeowners worked with Steve in phases over several years. The result: An exotic, drought-tolerant display of cycads and succulents---on a slope that won't slide into the street below.
Do join me virtually in Donna and Paul Carlomagno's garden, see clever solutions to ten challenges in before-and-after's, and discover colorful succulents the couple enjoy "every time we go outdoors."
LEARN MORE and VIEW A GALLERY of 30+ of the garden's succulents, all ID'd, at debraleebaldwin.com/succulent...
FIND THE DESIGNER
Steve McDearmon gardenrhythms.net
ONLINE SUCCULENT SOURCES
- Mountain Crest Gardens: bit.ly/2k5gxqA
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
-- Website: debraleebaldwin.com
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-- Online “Stunning Succulent Arrangements” Class: www.craftsy.com/class/stunnin...
-- Blog: debraleebaldwin.com/succulent...
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-- Succulent Chic Shop: bit.ly/2If7Qpg
Have a question about succulents not answered here? Use the Search bar at:
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ABOUT DEBRA
Award-winning garden photojournalist and bestselling author Debra Lee Baldwin shares her expertise 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.
#slopegarden #succulentslope #landscaping #succulentgarden #colorfulsucculents #succulentlandscape #sandiegosucculents #colorfulsucculents
This video's URL: • Succulent Slope Before...

[@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 goal as my KZbin channel. Q's welcome!

[@cherreedensley4994]

Fabulous, each plant seems to be a star.

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thank you, Cherree!

[@tvs9978]

Lovely. Loved their candidness in admitting they had to start and stop a number of times and that it's a work in progress

[@QueenofSucculents]

Yes, I appreciated that too. Thanks!

[@ksaewa]

OMG! Amazingly beautiful desert garden! Lots of work and money to this garden! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thanks for visiting

[@anttikuusmetso]

Great! Very beautiful frontyard, I like it very much! Best regards! 👍

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thank you!

[@jdt_skincareaddict]

Hello Debra!!! Thank you thank you for another terrific upload 💖✨🙏🏻

[@QueenofSucculents]

Aw, hugs to my #1 fan!

[@teresavega7675]

Just beautiful 😍 ❤ ♥ 💕

[@RVBadlands2015]

What a beautiful yard he is such an artist.

[@cathygodfrey1106]

Beautiful!!

[@jenniferdame6672]

such a beautiful installation. Great video, Debra!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Glad you liked it!

[@horticat9476]

Wow! What a dream garden! And with such a gorgeous view! The tip about lining paths with rock was very helpful. Thanks for sharing.

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thanks, HC!

[@janecurtis5726]

Really love the inclusion of palms and cycads with the succulents. Smart design watching natural flow of water and adapting the plantings and rock placement. Creative genius!!

[@QueenofSucculents]

I agree! Thanks, Jane.

[@susitorre-bueno9009]

WOW - what an inspiration! Thanks for sharing this great garden with the world.

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thank you, Susi! High praise indeed!

[@RVBadlands2015]

Love this video We have the same issue.

[@cassieryan8839]

Great to see another one of Steve's creations - good job!

[@QueenofSucculents]

Thanks, Cassie!

[@tessjones5987]

Debra I have your books. There is a couple on Sarasota Street in OB that had Steve McDearmon do their yard. It looks so tropic -yet they say they never have to water. Steve is so talented.

[@QueenofSucculents]

Hi Tess -- Yes, and he does gardens other than succulents. Thanks for noting that!

[@sandaxolotl6383]

Wow! That looks amazing! Great job.

[@QueenofSucculents]

Yes, a great collaboration!

[@jadestar1580]

Beautiful! Thank you for the video.

[@QueenofSucculents]

You're very welcome. Thank you for the comment!

[@asmitadeshpande1712]

Amazing garden and fantastic varieties of succulents and cacti in it.

[@QueenofSucculents]

So nice of you

[@QueenofSucculents]

Have you ever gardened on a slope? I have, and gravity and erosion were NOT my friends. 😬

[@sergiomas7001]

Bellissimo

[@QueenofSucculents]

For more tips, ideas, and gallery of plants ID'd, check out the corresponding article at debraleebaldwin.com/succulent-landscape/succulent-slope-before-after/ 🤓