Sedum, commonly known as Stonecrop, is a versatile and low-maintenance perennial plant. With its fleshy leaves and star-shaped flowers, Sedum adds subtle charm to your garden. These hardy plants are ideal for rock gardens, borders, or ground cover, making them an excellent choice for gardeners seeking fuss-free beauty in their outdoor spaces.
Planting Calendar
Sedums can be planted in spring, summer and autumn.
Prepare
Sedums come in many shapes and forms ranging from spreading ground cover, upright perennials and even hanging varieties which can be grown indoors. They are great when used as a boarder, in containers, coastal dry sites, rockeries, hanging baskets and between paths and steps.
Position
Sedum need fill sun to grow their best.
Soil
Sedum does not like wet soil which will cause them to rot. Soil should be rich in organic matter and have pumice or sand added to it to improve the drainage. When growing in baskets or pots plant into cacti and Succulent mix.
Pollination
Bees love sedum flowers, yet another reason to grow them.
Plant
When planting into the ground, ensure the plants is well watered then, gently tap the plant out of its pot. Dig a hole twice the depth and width of the plant’s root ball. Mix Kings Compost into your existing soil at a 50/50 ratio, add Kings Sheep Pellets then mix together. Backfill the hole with this soil, so that when planted the top of the plant’s roots sit level with the surrounding ground. Firm the soil down gently and water in well with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster. In heavier clay soils, where drainage is likely to be an issue, plant onto a raised mound and sprinkle Gypsum Clay Breaker into the bottom of the hole, this helps slowly condition the soil and help to break down the clay.
Care
Watering
Being a member of the succulent family sedum can take short periods of dryness. A couple of good weekly watering's during the hot months of the year should be all they need.
Feeding
For strong healthy roots and plants, apply monthly applications of Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster, from Spring through to the end of Autumn, this encourages root growth and increases the microbial activity in the soil. Monthly applications of Kings Sheep Pellets will help with soil conditioning and plant health.
Protecting
Protect from slugs and snails by applying pet friendly Quash, be sure to re-apply after rain.
Spraying
If needed to treat aphids spray with Bugtrol. Aphids can sometimes be seen on the flowers.
Pruning
Remove old flower spikes and any dried old leaves.
Beginner Tip
Sedums look great when planted in mixed groups of contrasting colour and texture.
Expert Tip
Sedum are easy to propagate, they can be grown from a small cutting and some varieties can grow roots from the small beads.