We are into September and my patio pots are starting to look untidy and sad. This month for me is always a bit of a dilemma, I want to tidy up pots and replant with autumn colours, however, these are the same pots I use for spring bulbs, which are still too early to plant, I like to wait until October when it is a little colder. That said, I have planted up two pots on my patio, three that line our drive and a large barrel tub, one of three sitting on a tree trunks by the fence opposite.
Container 1
I love the pink color combination of the heather, and cyclamen. The choice of cyclamen color varieties is vast, and finally I chose the cerise with white edging. The violas, when they flower, will be pink and white – that is if the label is correct!
Container 2
This container with the bee front has been sitting around waiting for something to go into it. When I cleared the barrel (see 3) I removed 2 large Blue Festuca. After watching a YouTube video about propagating this blue grass, I trimmed it down and split it, planting 2 small rooted pieces with the remaining pink and white violas. After a move around of my patio containers, I decided to also move my much loved Gary the Gargoyle brought with me when I moved. He is about 10 years old, looks wonderfully weathered and is now sitting on guard at the front of my patio.
Container 3
This is the large barrel tub that I put on a tree stump following the removal of the fir trees by the entrance to the apartment block. It has since be joined by two others which will also need to be tidied up. The ivy was in the original planting and has been given a hair cut. I removed the Festuca, replacing them with silver Calocephalus. The Skimmia will gain height after a while and can be left in the tub for a few years. I added 2 dianthus and filled in the gaps with a very pretty, delicate purple and white viola.
Container 4
We have 3 pots around the edge of the driveway. Last winter these were planted up with little firs, ivy, cyclamen and Cineraria. In the spring they were packed full of glorious tulips. The Cineraria and Ivy has gone through the summer with the addition of French Marigolds which proved to be a banquet for slugs and snails. This week I cut back the Cineraria which had almost taken over the pots and removed any dead plants, including a few Cyclamen that haven’t made it. Each pot only needed a replacement red Cyclamen making for a smart entrance. I’ve put chicken wire around all the pots to deter squirrels.
Container 5
I wanted a rose bush that would be happy in a large pot because I liked the idea of having a highly perfumed rose under my bedroom window. This is Chandos Beauty which I planted in June – the fragrance is absolutely wonderful. As you can see it is a repeat flowerer and is full of beautiful blooms.
Container 6
Earlier this year I planted 3 tomato plants in a grow bag (hence adding it as a container!) against the sunny wall at the side of my apartment. I grew Money Maker from seed and although a lot didn’t make it, these 3 have been most successful. Obviously I can’t eat them all, so every so often I put a basket of them by the main entrance for my neighbours to help themselves. These are the last lot and, with a hot week forecasted ahead, I hope the remaining tomatoes will ripen quickly.
Six on Saturday is a weekly meme hosted by The Propagator . Lots of people contribute to it so please hop over to his blog and take a look at what is growing in his garden and other gardens around the country and even abroad.