Plant a Living Wreath

Tough, drought-tolerant succulents are a perfect way dress up gates, fences, walls, and doors. To create a living wreath like the one shown here, you'll need:

-- Wire wreath form
-- Long-fiber sphagnum moss
-- Potting mix
-- Succulents
-- Florist's wire

Wreath forms are available from craft-supply stores in a number of different shapes that you can customize for your landscape. The wreath shape doesn't affect its care, but the size does: Larger wreaths hold moisture better than small wreaths and will need less frequent watering.

Soak your sphagnum moss in water for an hour or so before you plant your wreath. Take a handful of moss and gently squeeze out the excess moisture. Pack the moss around the bottom and sides of your wreath form.

After you pack moss along the sides of your wreath form, fill it with potting mix. Leave an inch or so of space between the soil and the top of the moss. Moisten the potting mix slightly, remove the succulents from their pots, and arrange the plants as you like.

Tuck more moist moss between the plants to hold the potting mix in place. Try to tuck it in fairly tightly. Use clips or ties to secure the moss in place.

If necessary, wrap the wreath with florist's wire. (The wire's green color will help hide it against the moss.) Water the wreath after planting. Leave your wreath to lie flat for a week or so before hanging. For best results, place the wreath in a shaded spot.

Top plant picks for living wreath include:

-- Aeoniums
-- Rosary vine (Ceropegia)
-- Crassulas
-- Echeverias
-- Euphorbias
-- Haworthias
-- Hens-and-chicks (Sempervivum)
-- Kalanchoes
-- Sedums (groundcover types)