Short-Cutting

Suddenly . . . it's fall.

(I can't deny it any longer.  Summer is gone.)

And there is MUCH to be done.  Work projects.  Home projects.  Catching up.  Just a whole lot going on right now.

Before I left for Utah (way back in September!), I purchased some mums, ornamental kale, and pansies.  I planned to re-fresh my containers for fall as I cleaned up around the garden. 

I want fall color and texture at my entry way.

I want to look out my kitchen window and see some bright pops of color in an otherwise turning bleak garden.

But I've had a tough time finding the time for gardening -- especially now that the daylight is so limited, and I can't garden in the evenings any longer.

What's a gardener to do?

This one takes some short cuts!

I empty my containers (of their now-dying summer plants and used-up soil), place weight in the bottom (bricks or small buckets of rocks) so they don't tip over in a breeze, and then just pop the fall plants - still in their nursery containers - right in!

Certainly not "proper gardening." 

But it gets the job done.

I get pops of fall color and texture without a huge investment of my (very limited) time.

(Now to add pumpkins!)

 

 

Comments

[Carole]

Excellent idea, especially since it's a temporary thing anyway. I came home to pumpkins and mums by the back door thanks to Dale!

[margene]

Great idea!! We're just in the process of adding a few pots of pansies to the patio. Smith will be thrilled with your idea. Your front entry looks so inviting!

[Cheryl S.]

Very clever!

[Suzy]

I put my garden to sleep last weekend and couldn't resist three pots full of pansies by my backdoor...they're called "Bluetiful"...and look so cute. May need to add a pumpkin or two, too!

[Marilyn]

Looks like a great plan! I broke off the plants in a big pot by the front door, left the grass, and plunked a pumpkin in with it. It's gonna have to do! It's in the 20s now overnight so I don't think I'll be able to do any fall plants. Shucks.

[kmkat]

I have already killed one mum by my front door -- forgot to water it, duh. But the local supermarket has decorative kale now, and iirc that stays colorful and attractive well into the snow and ice season. Must shop... (thanks for the reminder)

[Chloe]

What a clever idea. I love pansies. Their adorable little faces looking up at you can brighten up a rainy fall day. Never thought to mix them with kale. Will have to remember that!

[Cookie]

Wonderful way to make it work!

[Vicki]

A gardener has to do what a gardener has to do!! Autumn is too short.