Mixing Perennials In Your Planters
Who said that summer planters have to be just annuals? We never did. Try mixing some black-eyed susans, dianthus, grasses or anything else that you fancy in with your planters.
Not only will you get added interest this year, next year, you’ll have a head start on planting. We’re in New Jersey where the rule of thumb is nothing tender outside til after May 15th, otherwise you might kiss your money goodbye. So other than pansies, snaps or spike (draceana), there isn’t much happening in the way of planters.
But if you happened to have interspersed some perennials in your pots last year, like we did, you’d have some great interest to take you into the annual planting season.
This year, we had a gorgeous pot of blue oat grass, which is still gracing the deck, as well as a pot of black-eyed susans ready to pop any minute. We couldn’t forget our planter full of lamium (dead nettle) that started blooming early May. When it came time to plant annuals, we just kind of moved it over and it has made a great creeper to accent the planter.
Two of our built-in planters contain our very inexpensive Alberta Spruce that we purchased from Home Depot about 10 years ago. They grace the deck throughout every season. Some cranesbill geraniums, another great perennial, provide a splash of color for part of the summer and gracefully trail over the sides of the planters. Easy care with little maintenance, just some water every few days. How great is that?
We love grasses in our planters too. Perennials that you can always divide or move if they take over. We tried some Love Grass this year that is supposed to be hardy here in NJ. We shall see.
Give it a try. Don’t like what you did? Find a spot in your garden for it and try something else.
Have fun with it! The possibilities are endless.
Let us know what you used. We’d like to hear from you.
