Questions to ask myself about the Container Gardens I planted this summer.
By August, my container gardens have plenty to tell me. Some have been wonderful, some have struggled, and a few have left me wondering, “What was I thinking?” Before I forget it all by next spring, I like to walk around, take a good look, and make a few notes for next year: basically an end-of-summer container garden review. I always ask myself the following questions.
**Warning: If you ask others to review your garden containers, you may hear – “Yeah, they’re okay.” or “They are pretty, don’t be so hard on them and yourself.” This process is not to be critical of myself. It is to look at which plants were used and how I used them, so next year I do not cause a poor plant’s death. That is said with good humor and a wink.
So here are the questions:
An end-of-summer container garden review doesn’t need to be complicated. I look at what thrived, what struggled, what I would plant again, and what I want to change before planning next year’s containers.
- How are they doing?
- Should I plant them this way again?
- What would I change?
- Why don’t I like them?
- Which ones blew me away?
- Did I have an epic fail?
And here is the End of Summer Review of My Container Gardens.
I thought I would review them with you. Especially since I am learning a new gardening zone – Zone 6; I have a lot to learn. With hot, humid, muggy conditions, which, of course, cause other issues like powdery mildew, it attacked my bee balm (Monarda); notes to help plan for better plant selection next year.
How Are My Container Gardens doing at the End of Summer?
50/50. Some are doing awesome! A couple need to be watered more often than I care to do. A couple are awful! However, the hummingbirds are happy with these pots as they buzz around midday.
Should I plant them this way again?
- Yes, on the succulents, the troughs, begonias, herbs.
- No, on the dahlias, salvias, fuchsias
What would I change in the Container Gardens?
Dahlias should be in the ground or a bigger container. My rectangular one requires too much water, and they are drying out daily. Even though these dahlias are a smaller patio variety.
Salvias and Fuchsias also need larger containers; these containers dry out too quickly.
As you can see, one of my biggest lessons from this garden was that container size matters. The containers I used in Michigan aren’t cutting it here. They are too shallow for this growing season and heat. Pots that worked in a cooler climate dried out far too quickly during a hot, humid summer.
Now I could try adding water polymers to the soil next year. I have used these in the past when I planted herbs in shallow containers for a party. **Please note: if using these polymers, follow the directions closely. I thought I’d wing it once when adding them to the soil. Wrong! During the next big rain, the polymers swelled monstrously, pushing the plant out of the soil. And it looked like slime bubbled up out of a Ghostbusters movie. LOL, it was a sight and a shocking discovery when the rain stopped.
Why don’t I like them?
They are not lush. Looking at these container gardens, you can tell they are under stress, like someone who wants to leave the party. Yes, they are looking for a better pot to grow in. (Yes, I am having fun with puns.)
I have a couple of other pots of flowers that are doing horridly too. But in my defense, it is not my planting; it is the squirrels constantly digging in them. I have tried multiple ways to dissuade them, but nothing has worked. Maybe they haven’t read all the articles I have on ‘How to Keep Squirrels Out of Containers’. Lol. As you can see with this heart-shaped wreath form, the squirrels are pulling moss and succulents out of the form from the top and sides. The center is growing nicely.
I am working on keeping my sense of humor. If you remember, I have a retired greyhound who has been trained since birth to chase small furry creatures. Not Rosie, she watches them running around the yard, then, if she sees me watching her watching them. She points as if to say, “They are over there if you want to get them out of the flowers”. Oh yeah, no chasing. She’s not that ambitious. Lol. Anyway, back to the flowers.
Now, I do have hanging containers that are working beautifully. But I don’t like the leaves’ coloring. I love the Coleus in it! I just wish I had picked a brighter leaf – I did debate that at the nursery. This is a pot I showcased in our Facebook group; you can see the picture here.
Which Container Gardens Performed Best?
Or, as I like to say—which ones blew me away? The dragon wing begonia on the front porch is amazing! And my upper deck begonia container is breathtaking! What do you think?
I love how the spider plant and impatiens look in my wire orbs. Sorry for the funky picture angle; I was standing on the edge of the chair, trying to get it to stand out from the trees. I am learning in my photography class ~ wink. Maybe you remember these from a previous blog, ‘Catch that Idea’. Here is the link.
Plus, my succulent container gardens are gorgeous. I am thankful I wrote down in my journal the plants that went into them. They are a mixture of hardy perennials and tender house succulents. Most certainly, I would never remember which ones are tender this long after planting, if I hadn’t kept a record. I really love my planter with the candelabra on the back deck by the bar. Again, the squirrels dug these up right after I planted them, but the netting I covered it with let the plants grow in, and they haven’t dug in there since. Too bad the netting didn’t work on other containers.
Did I have an Epic Fail in the Container Gardens?
Yes! The miniature flowers I planted in the Fairy Garden, the squirrels loved to dig them up. This poor fuchsia is a good sport, flying between the pot and the ground. It often ends up out of the pot. And I think it is just this one pot that these squirrels want. Because every time I move it to another place, thinking it is safe here, it is found and dug up. So I brought it back to the Fairy Garden hoping the fairies would protect it. Hmm… still haven’t figured out the squirrel logic here.
End of Summer Container Gardens Review Conclusion Is…
So here is the good, the bad, and let’s not try this again. Luckily, it is the end of summer container garden review So the real fails will be pulled out and replanted for the fall. I love starting these early because then they are filled and nestled together in the container by the time the pumpkins are getting put out for fall. Then I can get my hands into soil, another good thing. So all is good. If you want to get your hands in the soil and plant some fall containers, this is your tip for getting started.
Keeping end-of-summer garden notes gives me a record of what worked while I can still remember it, making next spring’s plant choices, orders, and container plans much easier. This is part of living a Carefully Curated Life for me—taking time to notice what worked, what didn’t, and what I want to carry forward into the next season. As long as I have a sense of humor, life flows, and notes are made.
Keep the Notes You’ll Want Later
If you’d like to begin using a journal to keep the plans, ideas, observations, and everyday details you want to remember, the Curated Life Journal will show you how I create and use mine. Explore the Curated Life Journal →
If you are looking for more ideas for garden note-keeping and journaling, I have a previous blog post, “Gardening Grace Notes,” about that here. Also, with my notes, I can spend some time dreaming of new plant combinations using the plants that thrived last year. Then the cycle begins again, and life goes on…
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