quick gardening

15 years ago

Normally I don't do this kind of unplanned, gotta have it now gardening. But we're getting married in six weeks, which means a) I've been busy and have let the yard suffer a bit and b) I'm looking for a quick fix. Yep, I'm looking at annuals.

So.... I need some suggestions for quick improvements, hopefully that will last beyond the wedding but will also survive the next six weeks, when I plan to be completely consumed with things like tracking down the dressmaker and the cake lady. I need ideas for plants that can take a bit of abuse in the short term and are not expected to be beautiful in the long-term, though that would be a great bonus.

I've already put in some red salvia and some ground orchids out front. And I'm thinking of doing more of those.

But I also have:

pots attached to the fence in the back - these are tough, full of weeds and ready to grow anything from June to September, but hard to water when it's not raining. I did some purple grass in them one year that looked cool for awhile.

the pot ghetto - this might be where I put in all the prettiest annuals I can find at the last minute _ or make my cousin and my brother do that.

a border area I think I'm going to do in liriope

Several mulched beds in various stages of planting _ most have some broms in them, but have giant bare spots where other things weren't happy or got neglected to death.

Generally, I do slow gardening. I put in things slowly as I acquire them and I plan ahead, expecting the things I plant to last years. I don't do annuals. But now I need to do quick gardening. (The beds are already mulched and ready to go - I did that a few months ago, thinking I was planning ahead and had plenty of time.... funny how plenty of time creeps up on you. Now I have a couple weekends to deal with this.)

Ideas? I do have sprinklers set up out front to keep new plantings from dying. And we're also looking at ways to light the yard. Bought some white lights yesterday that we're going to test out tomorrow.

And the only thing that I planned well: I planted some hyacinth bean in a planter on the deck and it is already weaving its way around the pretty curved bamboo in that planter. So it might be pretty in time.

Hope I will (doing sit-ups madly.)

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Comments (10)

trinigemini
15 years ago
Did you just say getting married? Congratulations!!! :-)

Pentas looks pretty right now and will last for awhile. Mine look bad in the winter up here, but came back already.

I know you probably don't have time with the wedding coming up so soon. But I am having a swap on April 30th. I bet if you came you would walk away with enough pretty stuff to fill all of your needs. I've had my garden warming swap. I have no problem turning my swap into a little pre wedding decorate the yard swap (the yard being yours of course) :-)
trinigemini
15 years ago
I have no doubts :-)
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natives_and_veggies
Original Author
15 years ago
That's sweet. But yeah, I think by April 30, I'll be pretty insane.
Pentas are a good thought though. We bought new lawn chairs yesterday, so that's a big improvement.
trinigemini
15 years ago
HD has some really pretty begonias now. Also Lantana, the mounding type.
katkin_gw
15 years ago
I am so happy for you, Natives and wish you the best. :o)
tomncath
15 years ago
Congrats Susie!

Other than pentas you'd have time to get some gaillardia, rudbeckia or echinacea started....

Tom
coffeemom
15 years ago
I'm available to help any of my 4 days off. Call me if you need a garden hoe!
chloe92us
15 years ago
Home Depot has 18 flats of Vinca in all the pretty colors. They happen to be one of my favorite annuals---they thrive on neglect. I planted a flat in my back yard last year, literally on a mound of sand where nothing else will grow and they lasted all through the winter and are full and covered in flowers. I have no irrigation and they only get watered from the sky.

Yes, lantana is also an easy annual and they will get big and covered in flowers in 6 wks.

Also, caladiums....you could fill them in your bromeliad areas for some quick color. I love them too! You can buy the bulbs online in bulk...check out www.classiccaladiums.com

Congrats on your wedding!
whgille
15 years ago
Hi Susannah

Congrats on your wedding! And I hope that you post some pictures for us to see the happy couple.

For quick color I would look for flats of annuals, kind of matching colors. I don't know about your area but near my house there are nurseries that will sell for better prices that you get at the big box stores. They sell them in plugs and good variety of flowers and you can also mix with some just pretty leaves. Even for the plugs it takes some time to get established.

Good luck on your very special day!

Silvia
keiki
15 years ago
Congratulations!

I agree with the penta and lantana suggestions. There are salvias that stay small like blue bedder that the box stores sell as annuals but will live for years. Coleus will make a great filler with their colored foliage and can be found in flats. Both of these are very inexpensive and easy.