Succulent Patch Rehab

  A mass of Graptoveria 'Fred Ives', a  little past its prime

Succulents grow vigorously here and some types offset generously.  They've proven to be great no-cost edging plants in areas where the dryness and heat is not too extreme.  

Even under roses!  The edge of this bed is very dry, but when shaded much of the day by the roses the succulents perform very well.

 However, eventually the beauty declines as the plants grow and bare stems appear.

 While minor touch-up works for a while, eventually it is time to bite the bullet and do a complete rehab.  "Complete" means pulling out everything and replanting afresh.

First, I cut off the largest, healthiest rosettes from their bare stems and set them aside.

 Smaller rosettes set aside in a different space. 

 A whole lot of them!  I may leave them out on the curb with a "Free Plants!" sign.  With our Covid-19 stay-at-home order from the Governor, some people may do a little gardening to stay busy. 

 The next task is pulling out what is left:  bare stems and shallow root systems.  The easy part is that most small succulent plants have minimal root systems barely below ground.  The hard part is the weight and bulk of the stems. 

The ground was surprisingly moist.  We've had good rain in March.

And, finally, refreshed.  I cleared the Dymondia ground cover away from the edging, and patched it a bit also, though at this time of year it will grow back quite fast. 

 Refreshing a succulent patch can be a lot of work.  No wonder I put it off so long.  Looks tidy again, though, and it will look good for two or three years more.  

Hmm...I should really re-do those Aloe brevifolias also...but...not right away.