Outdoor Projects

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

How does your garden grow? Mine? Not so well…

green centipede grass brown medallion on vinyl siding bare natural bed area garden yard

I created this flower bed in April of 2013 to spruce up the outside of my garage. There was grass there, so it required removing that and defining the bed before planting. It looked pretty good right after everything was planted.

carnations and other flowering plants in new flower bed against vinyl siding

Then it got too hot. And I didn’t water my pretty flowers enough. So 2 of the 3 types withered and died. The one that stuck it out was more of a ground cover than the upright flowering plant I desired for this space. And even it had seen better days…

green grass flower bed with dying plant and American flag

So I hit up the garden center and bought some new beauties. But of course I had to clean out the old stuff first. And it looked better immediately.

green grass flower bed half dirt 5 gallon bucket

I decided to use my cordless tiller to fluff up the old dirt and hopefully make it a more loving and nourishing environment for the new flowers.

Black and Decker orange cordless tiller green grass garage vinyl siding and empty flower bed

Once that was done, I laid out the plants for a “dry fit”. And unfortunately I under-estimated how many plants I would need. I was majorly short! Last time I planted this bed I had too many, so I guess I over compensated in the other direction this time!

plants in plastic pot sitting on dirt in flower bed with green grass around

So back to the store I went. Well I guess I got the last of the bluish-purple flowers in the back, because they didn’t have any more at the store! I adjusted the game plan and started looking for ANY upright perennials that could compliment what I already had. And of course they didn’t have ANY at that store. Not a single upright perennial. So off to the other big box store I went.

There they had something very similar so I snatched them up. The original ones I bought are on the left and the second ones I bought are on the right. They are both in the same family of “salvia” perennials. I think it works.

Salvia plants side-by-side comparison

Especially since I alternated them on the back row in the new lay out. I think I like it better than if I had 7 original salvias along the back. It gives it more dimension and interest.

salvia purple blue perennials in flower bed with pink pentas and green grass

I used a trowel to mark around each container as I planted them one by one, making sure each plant was still lined up before backfilling the hole. And with a little pine straw sprinkled around, I’m really liking the finished product!

blue and purple salvia in flower bed against tan vinyl siding with brown medallion with pink and purl pentas

And the best part is these flowers will come back year after year and they bloom in fall, spring, and summer so I’ll be able to enjoy my handy work year-round!

pink pent, purple pent, blue salvia flower bed

Anyone else enjoying planting new flowers and plants this time of year? Who else replants flower beds after a neglectful season? There’s always hope you’ll do better next time! Which is why I’m watering my new bed every single day!

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