I know this is going to cause some eyes to roll, but I need some advise.
I purchased one of those slabs of sedums from Lowes, planning to put it into an area which has a bunch of rocks a bit of dirt.

Now it is snowing again.
1. Do you think I can just drop it down into the area even though it is snowing?
2. Do rabbits munch on the stuff and should I put some CritterRidder or Plantskyd to deter them?
3. Should I feed the plants?
4. If I do put it out. Should I cover it until I am sure the temps will be above 35+ at night?

Normally I would not attempt to plant anything until after about May 15 because of our swings in temps. Today 50, Tomorrow 70, the day after 30 something.

Thanks for your Help

I wish I could help I am interested to see the advice as well though.

Marilyn, my eyes didn't roll one bit...but I would hold off planting it. It is already situated in some sort of medium so it should be alright until conditions that don't involve snow, cold, wetness, etc. prevails.

In the meanwhile, if the area you are planting into has different exposure, now is a good time while the sedum is still portable to acclimate it to the exposure it will be in. Especially since you will be holding back on putting it where you want.

I always note what the exposure was for the plant when I buy it so that I know how much acclimating I need to give new plant. Sometimes things purchased from a greenhouse needs to acclimate gradually to outside sun exposure by 10-15 minutes a day (in light sun to more sun) until fully acclimated. Wind exposure is another thing to consider hardening off new plants to.

If you have seen evidence of rabbits/critters relishing your succulents you might consider a deterrent but I find that some critters just taste and move on and of course some make a meal of it. So just observe.

Don't feed until it gets more established and afterwards just half the dose of whatever you get as succulents grow slower.

If after planted, I always cover with shade cloth, frost cloth, seedling cloth, or whatever cloth/sheet if there's chance of frost. You might see/check with others regarding what they know to be hardy for your temps in your area. Neighbors and/or other people growing succulents can give you their experience.

Kevin just gave me some sedum that I whole heartedly assume will survive the Salem Oregon winters in the future as I know "he's in the Know"...

Sorry this was so long but you can take a nap after this and make your decision later.

Thanks for all the great info.

Right now the tiles are still in the back seat of my car. I guess I should take them out and put them close to my patio door. From that area I can place them outside for a few minutes until the weather


As you see from the pic we have some very warm weather ahead. Longer range does predict a few more days of possible cool/rain and we could have another shot at more snow after this period.

I would hold off for another week or so until those nite temps get higher than 45 before planting. You can definitely put the tile (in a tub or try or something so that it doesn't dry up (mist spray!) and put it outside in the dappled sun/shade during the day and bring indoors at nite until the nights get warmer. In the meantime the day acclimation process can be done to get the tile going in your environment.
Have fun, Marilyn!

I agree to wait until the weather is a little better. Just do not leave them in the car. It can be cold outside but the sunshine in the car will cook them.

I can answer the animal question. It could be rabbit, deer, groundhogs but something eats some of my sedum down to the ground some they never touch. This year I sprayed mine early. We have had great warm temps for over a month and they had started to eat some of the sedum that was just coming up.

It took me awhile to realize that winter was not killing some of the small ground cover sedum it was something eating them.

Marilyn, the above is definitely really sound advice. Do wait a bit before planting. When you get to leaving them outside, covering them with an old sheet or tee shirt will work should the temps really drop at night.

About your soil, if it's very thin ("a bit of dirt" as you say), and looks a bit too inhospitable to you, add a bit more of basic garden soil; although the soil in which they are currently planted might suffice.

My last garden had an abundance of rabbits (along with chipmunks and friends), yet they tended to leave the sedum alone. Of course, there was several other options for them.

Ok, thanks folks,
I will give it another few days before I plant. In meantime I will try to move them into a waiting area.
I just did not want to provide a bunny feeder station.

Although I have had sedum in the same area which did grow OK. I am hoping for a better result this time. This year is different since they trimmed the overhanging tree canopy. I am hoping with a bit more sun they will prosper. I will hope some of it survives the winter. That will be another test for later.

Marilyn, I see your avatar depicts a young girl looking dubious about the bunnies staying away or the sedum-surviving-the-winter experiment?

I think maybe I was just squinting into the sun. But yes I am dubious that the Sedum will grow/not grow/survive for me.

I changed the avatar because I was just tired of my old semp picture and wanted something different. Since I had nothing green to offer right now I searched for a picture. Best I could come up with.

I love the new avatar Marilyn.
I agree with all the great advice given here. Wait to plant.
Sean advice about adding a bit more dirt to the area before placing the mats of sedum makes good sense to me. Once you get them down a light fertilizing would be a good idea to get the roots to take off. Your local nursery should be able to point you on that would promote root growth.