Now that our vegetable gardens are well-established, it was time to take care of an eyesore that I couldn’t avoid any longer. Right off my family room, and visible from the kitchen core of the house, is a patio planter box that had been neglected for too long. Unsightly but not out of sight!
Before and After! (2 months later)
We received a gift of gorgeous cuttings of hydrangeas from close friends last week. They don’t live far away so I wondered, can I grow them too? I’d always avoided hydrangeas because they are notorious water guzzlers, but surely one or two won’t break the piggy bank.
Larry & Cindy’s 
Cut Hydrangeas
I happened to be at Home Depot yesterday and passing by its garden center I noticed glorious hydrangeas in full bloom. A sign for sure, so I bought two, one predominantly blue and one pink. I know the pH of the soil determines whether the flowers are blue or pink, and I’m not sure how I’ll keep the soil of one hydrangea acidic and the other alkaline, but I figured if I want variety, I might as well start out with both.
Digging up the planter box wasn’t easy because it had been established decades ago and the roots and tubers were extensive. I shook off as much dirt as I could to save it, and then added copious amounts of soil amendments and patio planter potting mix. I like to use the time-release, higher nutrient soil specially designed for containers when plants don’t have the benefit of being in the ground.
After refreshing the soil, I planted sun-loving multicolor vincas in the front where they will stay low, provide color all summer long, and help keep the soil in the planter box when it’s being watered. Behind them, I planted two foxtail ferns, which should stay to about 1 1/2 feet, but get more bushy with their beautiful, bright green unusual foliage. Hiding in the back row are my new hydrangeas. They should grow to 3-6 feet, however. I’ll prune them aggressively during the winter so they don’t get too woody.
On the right side of the planter is a wall that backs up to an outside fireplace. As its the back of the chimney, the wall is very high, going clear up to the roof. It’s hard to see in the shady side of the picture, but I planted a jasmine against that wall that I will train to grow on these trellis wires and almost-invisible anchors that I’ve used for growing jasmine against my stucco in other locations.
Well, that’s it. Such a satisfying turnaround. Here’s the before and after. I can’t wait to see how this planter box matures. I hope I get lots of hydrangeas blossoms to enjoy on the bush and cut to bring inside too!
“Before” and “After” Right After Replanting
