My tomatoes are seven feet tall, my Monarda suffered a severe lopping after a heavy downpour, and I'm seeking stakes in the spooky shed. It's just another day in a sun-challenged garden. If you have a yen for sun-lovers but in reality have too much shade, stakes are your best friends.
Hydrangea arboresens 'Incrediball' |
An experiment in the world of upsie downsie. |
When my father in-law gave me this pot, called the Upsy Downsy Tomato Planter, I was skeptical. But when I purchased a cell pack of four Super Sweet 100 tomato plants and then found I had no place to put them, my husband planted them in the Upsy Downsy. So far, the only retrofitting to be done was the attachment of the pot to a post that extends from our fencepost. It needs water at least once a day, and I feed it with a water soluble fertilizer in addition to using Osmocote. We have fruit! And although it's suffered a few total meltdowns from lack of water, it's not doing bad.
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Phlox 'David's Lavendar is heading heavenward. |
Although I've yet to stake this Phlox, it has the advantage of being sheltered from the wind by its proximity to a trellis and fence. Another advantage is that it's even too tall for the deer to reach. Of course, I suppose if it were in their normal traffic route--pretty much anywhere--it would be a goner.
Origanum 'Kent Beauty' benefits from its own little fence.
Even the little guys in a sun-challenged garden need support. In this case, the ornamental oregano called 'Kent Beauty'. I love it for dried arrangements, and if you keep clipping it, itremains somewhat short.
Oriental-Trumpet hybrid lily - staked, of course. |
Great save on those Hydrangeas. They look brilliant standing up tall. I was intrigued by the Upsy Downsy Tomato Planter. It does seem to be working so well for you.
ReplyDeleteLoved the simple pure white of your Oriental-Trumpet hybrid. It's a stunner and looks great with those gorgeous cerise blooms and apricot Hemerocallis behind it.
Those hydrangeas are definitely what I would call 'mop heads' it is a wonder they manage to stay upright with all the weight at the top.
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