I recently noticed that my hardy hibiscus was rapidly outgrowing its container. Like most gardeners, I find keeping my plants in adequately large planters can be a difficult endeavor. You finally think they’re all secure for the season and then one has a random growth spurt. As it turns out, the local garden center had a sale on neon blue plastic containers. I bought two, thinking to use the other for something else. But then inspiration struck. I could set matching containers at either side of my entryway for extra pizzazz. Sort of like a plant version of double mint gum. If you’d like to do the same in your front yard, read on for details for your own porch planters.
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planters
Unfulfilled – Coping with Half-Full Planters
Anyone who has ever had a container garden knows that sometimes the planters in questions can start to look a little sparse for one reason or another. Suppose the seeds that were planted on one side refused to come up but the ones on the other side are now pushing two feet tall. Or maybe the container was full but one of the plants didn’t make it through a spate of inhospitable weather. (Read: the winter chill or the summer heat murdered it). Maybe the plants didn’t like their new home or roommate. Or perhaps the responsible party went out of town. Then they came back to find their nicely weeded container garden had turned into a scary-as-hell nightmare that swallowed up a whole bunch begonias. So here’s how to cope with an a situation that is all too familiar for most gardeners. Read More