As
promised, I want to address the simplifying our lives as it pertains to the
garden. Naturally, a great foundation of trees, shrubs and perennials is a
great start. In this blog I want to focus on simply planting annuals in
containers & in your beds that will save you time & money & look so
beautiful.
The goal is to choose plants that are a
thriller, filler & sometimes spiller all in one. I always like to do a
grouping of pots together. This year I want to have beautiful, unique plants –
one per pot! The plants I am looking to use are coleus, felicia, lantana, heliotrope,
calibrachoa, unique geraniums, euphorbia ‘diamond frost”, salvia ‘Victoria blue’
(pinch centers out early to encourage branching, zinnia (same pinching,
pinching, pinching!) . I also love dragon wing begonias & I will keep these
in my beds & hanging baskets. They get huge! I love the idea that one
specimen of any of these plants, given the room to grow, will be spectacular in
their simplicity. I planted Hyacinth bean seeds for my trellis & arbor.
This climber will not get too out of control (like a morning glory – or reseed
too crazy the following year) The spectacular purple flowers become glossy
eggplant colored seed pods later in the season. The hummingbirds love them
& you collect the seeds for next
year’s planting.
When choosing your plants this year, check
the tag carefully on the ones that speak to you. Check the height & spread
and see if that can be that simple thriller/filler for your garden. Remember to
buy some time-release plant food like Osmocote to scratch around your plants.
One feeding for four months is a very
simple way to go.
You will especially reap the simplicity of
feeding, watering & dead-heading as the season goes on. I mean watering one
plant instead of five that would normally fill the same space – why didn’t I
think of this sooner?!?
Happy
choosing & planting!
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