Several Years ago, the UC Cooperative Extension Solano Master Gardeners held a class to plant succulents in small wooden boxes (6” x 6”), constructed with a backing and a wire front. I heard many success stories with planting these boxes and several stories of disappointment.

Taking the class inspired me to plant a larger succulent box that could be hung on the fence in our garden. My handy husband created a box from a discarded picture frame (16” x 30”), backed it with cement board and covered the front with plastic lathe. All materials were recycled. The box was painted green, filled with planting soil (peat-lite) and each opening in the lathe was planted with an assortment of succulents.

Having this succulent display has been a learning journey. Being 2 inches deep, I thought it would require a regular watering schedule. Not so. It gets taken down and watered (over a wheel barrow) about every 30 to 45 days. Succulents have needed to be replaced as they overgrew or froze during the winter. This planter has been moved from the fence to the side of the garden cottage. Now it is visible from our kitchen door and we pass it each time we go in and out of the house.

This past summer, the succulent plants thrived. There were a few that fell out as they grew large and heavy while others survived in the same condition. I even used a “dust buster” to remove spider webs that appeared on the plants overnight. I learned the larger wall hanging box is easier to manage than the smaller box made in class.

Another lesson learned is to make sure the soil in the box is damp when frost warnings are given…. and cover it with frost cloth. Another option is to hang it indoors (like your garage), or you will find yourself replanting all those little squares in the lathe come spring.