Semps are pretty tough when they're established. They aren't particularly picky, as long as the soil is fast draining. I've been using maybe 20 percent commercial succulent mix, and the rest equal amounts of perlite, gravel, and coarse builders sand. But, I've also planted them in the native soil around the roots of my trees without any augmentation and they've done fine. I don't water or fertilize any of my semps. But, I've only had them from the spring at the earliest. I don't think they need a lot of fertilizer- I don't plan on feeding them anytime soon.

Mister PH, I either loosen the roots or lift the tree entirely (all small) lie it on its side along an 18 inch deep trench with mulch in the bottom. You can bury several in one place. Branches are tied to make it compact. I put mulch through the spaces, cover with garden fabric, cover with mulch and maybe some soil. Everything is cold. Branches do not rot. You just need to take care digging it up again in March or later, so mark it well with stakes to show where branches are. The fabric tells you when you reach the tree. Stand it up and let it grow in place again. I hear the Greeks do this in Montreal which is where I learned of it. I plant my trees in ground for summer, but you could do it just as well with plants in pots. A couple of feet of mulch keeps frost out. I noticed when I dug-out this last spring, that there was only a 6 inch layer of solid frozen mulch to clear off. Everything below there was healthy, though I did damage a very few branches digging them out.

I'm baaaack!!! Thank you so much for helping me with my powder room, so on to the next dilemma. Any ideas or opinions are welcome (and begged for!). Figuring out where the sink and w/d go are the biggest decisions because it turns out plumbing is one of the first items the builder needs! The room is 15’ 4 “ long and 8’ 6” wide (from wall to wall) I’m sitting here with tracing paper and am already blocked!!!!! :) Hopefully my goals aren't too lofty: Passage way I’m hoping to have a passage way from the closet to get into the laundry room. I love the idea of coming in dirty and just taking my clothes off in the closet and walking them into the laundry room to hang dry or toss in the washer. At the very minimum I want a ‘pass' through so I don’t have to carry baskets or so I can toss in a wet bathing suit. I currently sort my clothes into different baskets as I take things off, so if I only have a pass through and not a walk through, maybe I would stack my baskets on shelves in a cabinet and have that cabinet accessible from the laundry side too. *I want a raised w/d *I’d like one deep counter for folding in which an entire shirt will mostly fit. *I rarely rarely sew, but I’d like a spot to sit and sew on a button or work on a stain etc. *I will want a space for a nice sized pull down ironing board *A big area for a drying racks (hanging and laying flat). I will consider getting a drying cabinet like this one, but it's completely not necessary http://staberdryingcabinets.com *I’d like to have space for a steam cabinet if they should perfect those. The reviews aren’t great. *I was hoping to have a rotary iron for linens, but I don’t know if it will fit. *If I don’t put in a rotary iron, I want a line to hang linens so I can use a garment steamer on them. *There is another area for housekeeping items, so I don’t need to store vacuums etc. If there is room, storing overflow items would be nice (extra tp, suitcases up high perhaps, linens/towels) The venting for the w/d will go through the roof, so the w/d can be placed anywhere in the room. I hear it’s more efficient for the sink and laundry room to be close for plumbing purposes.

a large potted plant would be perfect in that spot. it's a nice bright window and a tall tree type plant would eat up that portion of the wall. Put a some potted succulents over on the window ledge while you're at it. They only need to be watered a few times a month, and will really help your decor. or do an indoor herb garden...any type of greenery will do wonders for that spot for the tv, do a few larger (nothing smaller than 8x10 or 11x14) prints as shown below.