Container Gardening

Rejuvenating a Container Garden

In August container gardens often need attention. The care of this container has just been watering and feeding since it was planted.

The photograph shows several problems: the plants are growing too large for the container, the plants are “leggy”, one of the plants didn’t survive, as indicated by the yellow box.

Contents of Container:
Coleus –  ‘Gay’s Delight’
Marguerite Daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens) – ‘Butterfly’
Dahlia – ‘Grande Magdalena’
Petunia – ‘Supertunia Priscilla®’
Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia) – ‘Creeping Jenny’

Evaluation of the Current Container

This container could just have been pruned to improve its appearance.  However, the container wasn’t as colorful as when it was planted for two reasons:

  • The yellow Marguerite daisy had died.
  • The dahlia had not produced many flowers as the location wasn’t sunny enough.

So in addition to pruning the plants, some of the plants would be replaced.  The rationale for changing some of the plants is:

  1. Enhance its color
  2. Extend its bloom time until frost
  3. Make the appearance appropriate into the fall season
  4. Try some new plants that have received good reviews as new cultivars

In late summer, plants can usually be purchased at a reduced price!

Step 1. Prune coleus.
Step 1. Prune coleus.8 – 12 inches of each stem was removed, cutting back to a set of leaves or a node.
Step 2. Remove unwanted plants.
Step 2. Remove unwanted plants. The coleus has been pruned, and the dahlia and dead Marguerite daisy have been removed.

The container still looks too leggy and overgrown with the remaining petunias. The decision was made to also remove the petunia.The dahlia and petunias were added to two other containers that needed some enhancing.

Step 3. Add New Plants
Step 3. Add new plants. The colors of the new plants chosen for the container were shades of orange, purple and black to go with the lime greens of the coleus and Creeping Jenny. This container is ready for autumn!

Contents of Container:
Coleus –  ‘Gay’s Delight’
African Marigold – ‘Taishan® Orange’
Begonia – ‘Bonfire™’
Petunia – ‘Black Velvet’
Spreading Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) – AngelMist®
Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia) – ‘Creeping Jenny’