Product Description

Succulent plants offer dazzling possibilities for garden design and require only minimal maintenance to remain lush and alluring year round. Featuring the work of more than 50 professional garden designers and creative homeowners, this complete design compendium is as practical as it is inspirational. Lavishly illustrated with over 300 photographs, it gives design and cultivation basics for paths, borders, slopes, and containers; hundreds of succulent plant recommendations; and descriptions of 90 easy-care, drought-tolerant companion plants. Beginners and experienced designers, landscapers, and collectors alike will find what they need to visualize, create, and nurture the three-dimensional work of art that is the succulent garden.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101540 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

About the Author
Debra Lee Baldwin is an award-winning writer and editor based in Southern California. Throughout her 18-year career, she has authored an inspirational biography, and has written hundreds of feature articles and columns about architecture, homes, gardens, landscaping and interior design, and people who have made significant contributions to our culture. Debra has won awards from the Garden Writers Association of America, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the San Diego Press Club, and has appeared on national television.

Customer Reviews

A unique and well-written book on design and landscaping
Most of the existing books on landscaping can be put into one of the three categories:

a. Coffee table books with pretty photos.
b. Encyclopedia of plants.
c. Horticulture books.

Only a few of the books on landscaping actually discuss design.

"Designing with Succulents" is so unique that it fits in all three categories and it is also a well-written design book. It has striking colour photos, useful horticulture information, and it is an encyclopedia for succulents.

This book also has detailed information on planning and design for gardens. Debra started with discussions on sun consideration, basic of garden design, front yard ideas, street side gardens, pathway plantings, slope and terraces and some useful and practical information on evaluating the soils, water and irrigation, and preparing and repairing.

If you mention succulents, most people will think of them as sculptural plants with green-tone or gray-tone colours. Debra provided some fresh ideas and introduced succulents with vivid, colourful leaves and brilliant flowers into garden design. She also explored the issues of landscaping and fire safety, the design of green roof gardens, rock and boulder gardens, desert and cactus gardens, beach gardens, sea-themed succulent gardens, geometric plantings, as well as tapestry and labyrinth gardens with the use of succulents.

"Designing with Succulents" has a special chapter on pots, wreath and container gardens, including style and sizes, design principles and creative ideas for pots, wreath or topiary, and soils, sun and fertilizers, and water and drainage. I found this information to be very useful, especially for gardens with tight spaces and for remodel projects where planting areas are limited.

This book also has information on growing succulents in colder climate, and plant care and propagation, and separate chapters for huge succulents, mid-sized succulents and small succulents.

"Designing with Succulents" has 256 pages and colour interior photos. It is a must-have for both gardening novices and seasoned professionals.

Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA

Unique Garden Design Book for Succulents (including Cacti)
My library contains about a dozen books on Cacti and Succulents and about thirty books related to garden design and landscape architecture. However, "Designing With Succulents" combines both subjects; drought tolerant plant materials and how to effectively design using these very popular and easy to grow plants. If you're thinking about trying to cut down on your water usage in the garden, don't hesitate to order this book so that you'll know everything you need to create a unique garden with these stunning stars of the garden world. I love this book !!!