9 Stunning Succulent Garden Design Layouts For Small Backyards

5. The Repurposed Vintage Wheelbarrow Planter

I found this gorgeous, rusty old metal wheelbarrow at a neighborhood garage sale and immediately envisioned it overflowing with desert greenery.

But I completely forgot to drill drainage holes before planting, and after one heavy rainstorm, it turned into a tiny, swampy lake that sadly drowned my entire collection.

Upcycling and Soil Preparation

Once I learned my lesson, I grabbed my power drill and put about ten half-inch holes straight through the bottom of the basin.

Adding a layer of coarse gravel at the base before pouring in your gritty succulent soil mix is an absolute lifesaver for preventing root rot.

Using a repurposed vintage wheelbarrow like this adds an incredible, charming cottage-core focal point right to the center of a small yard.

It gives your outdoor space a weathered, artistic character that brand-new plastic pots just can’t match.

Selecting Colorful High-Density Succulents

When it’s time to plant, you want to pack your specimens tightly to create a rich, overflowing treasure chest look.

I love pairing high-color sempervivum hens and chicks with thick, structural varieties of crassula jade plant.

The deep burgundy edges of the sempervivums contrast beautifully against the bright, fleshy green leaves of the crassula.

Make sure to tuck tiny sedum cuttings into the empty gaps to completely cover the soil surface.

If vintage metal feels a bit too rustic for your personal style, don’t worry because we can go completely modern next.

Let’s swap out the old-school farmhouse look for some sharp, industrial geometric lines, so click that next button below to see how cheap construction blocks can look like high-end designer art.