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With this sticky hot weather we're having, I must admit I'm doing most of my gardening from my living room. I've spent some time just deciding what I'll do to add some color to my landscape once our fall weather finally arrives.
One project is adding color to the front door area. It will sport some new containers (at least newly planted). The porch light was recently replaced, the door refinished and the concrete coated after the removal of river rock. It only seems appropriate to add some color there. I have scrubbed up the pots I will use and have decided on a color scheme for the area.
I have chosen (in just my mind so far) to use croton to add some really vibrant color and will plant alyssum spilling out around the edges of the pots. I will probably tuck in some ivy also as this will hang down farther on the pot than all the alyssum. I have ivy in the back yard that I can just transplant into the containers.
I will also add a window box to the outside of the dining room window. It is not readily visible from the street, but those coming to the front door will see it. A wide range of flowering and foliage plants are suitable for window boxes. Before you begin planting, plan your garden scene. Since I am using the orange, yellow and red crotons by the front door, I will stay with those colors. In the fall I can plant petunias, marigolds, portulaca and add some more alyssum and trailing ivy to soften the edges.
If you have not used window boxes in your landscape, you may want to give it some thought. To attain a professional-looking window box, include plants that have different growth habits. Use some plants that grow in neat, low mounds, others that grow upright, and a few vining or trailing plants to spill over the edges.
Also, use plants with different textures. You might use a smooth begonia with waxy leaves and an ageratum with fuzzy leaves. In general, choose plants of varying heights from 4 to 16 inches. Taller plants tend to look gawky unless "stepped down" with lower-growing plants in front.
Pay attention to the essentials and you'll have a beautiful addition to your landscape. Those essentials include checking your window box often. They may need watering every day. Remember, even if it rains, your boxes may need water because overhanging eaves will block rainfall. Drainage holes in the bottom of the boxes are imperative so that your plants do not become waterlogged.
If you provide optimum conditions in your window boxes for the plants, they will grow rapidly; therefore, weekly feedings will be necessary to keep your plants in top shape. Use an all-purpose liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength.
Set your plants closer together than in a garden. This will give your box a nice full look. If they become too crowded, remove a few. Removing wilted flowers will improve the looks of your arrangement and encourage more, longer-lasting blossoms.
To encourage your plants to fill out and bloom profusely, pinch back the growing tips. Mulch the soil surface with a thin layer, one-half to 1 inch of peat moss, dried grass clippings, oak leaves or fine bark dust. This gives your box a finished look. It will also help retain moisture and prevent mud from splashing on the plants.
Probably most important, use a good brand of potting soil. Do not use garden soil. It is too heavy and will pack down in your box.
Another project I am planning is the containers on the lanai and pool deck. Since our deck was recently resurfaced, I don't want too many pots on the deck. We did have two small planters beds beside the spa, but I had those filled with concrete before the new decking went down. The idea of the plants near the pool sounded good when we initially had the pool built, but in reality they were high maintenance. I had to be careful what plant materials were in those beds, as the foliage would usually end up in the pool. Also the beds had to be hand watered, which was inconvenient. I like it much better without them and can always place containers there.
The lanai kitchen, not yet built, will include a breakfast bar area that will be lined with African violets. They like the humidity and light outside, but not direct sunlight. Under the lanai cover will be perfect for them. If we have a cold winter night or two they will have to be brought inside.
So, although I have been a bit lazy about getting outside in my garden, I have not been idle - at least my mind has been working! I'm sure I'll come up with a number of other fall projects before the temperature starts to dip. Give it some thought, and you too can have quite a project list to tackle after our hot weather passes.