If I'm going to plant my semps in the ground, I like to get them in early in the year so they can be established by winter. But sometimes they've come from places that don't have my kind of sun and they can sun burn. Or they don't have much root system and would dry out too much in our sun. So, last year, I made little shades out of plastic pots that worked very well. New semps do need water more often than the old, well established ones do. I give them little bits in the evening.
Wow, that area has filled in quite a bit since last year. I need to take another picture.
Just extended the area in my terraces for more semps. It was 1 part sand, 1 part old horse manure and 1 part really nice 20 year old compost mixed in with the native clay. It gives it some drainage but not too much since we are rather dry here. I watered it in really well and the water didn't puddle for more than a few minutes, which is a good thing. I know the semps will grow a bit big because of the horse manure but it's more available to me than my precious old compost.
