It's not even September yet and I've went out an bought a mum.
With school starting so early this year, it just felt like time to jump on the fall decorating bandwagon. Or would that be hay wagon?
Adding a fall mum, kale or cabbage to an existing planter is a great way to extend the life of your summer planters.
So I normally go ahead and remove the duds from my planters in late summer. You know, those petunias that are super leggy or the geraniums that never really took off. And just replace them with the more festive (and fresh) fall plants to keep the summer planters interesting for a few more months.
Normally it's not until November when I finally admit that winter is in fact coming and I give up on gardening for the rest of the year.
I got a little bonus this year too. Last week when I was at Lowes, I noticed that they had these planters on clearance for $5.00. Normal price earlier in the summer was $24.98.
Now there was no way I was going to spring for $24.98 earlier in the year, but $5 clearance flowers are always a good deal when they have perennials in the mix (the perennials will come back in the spring).
So I went ahead and skipped buying Wendy's for lunch and bought this instead. My thighs will thank me.
This one contained a Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rebrum', which always reminds me of the movie The Shining), Circus Coral Bells (Heuchera 'Circus' PPAF) and an ugly, stringy, past its prime, light purple Trailing Petunia (Petunia x hybrida).
No sooner had I gotten it home and out of the car, I was digging the ugly butt petunia out of the planter.
And put an inexpensive mum in its place.
So for $5 and the price of the mum (I think they were around a buck or two), I have a brand new fall planter that will last until the Christmas porch decor comes out.
And further.
The Purple Fountain Grass is grown as an annual around here and I always love the airy plumes in the fall, but both the the Coral Bells and the mum will be transplanted into the ground after fall is over and should come up bigger and better next year.
If you've never grown Coral Bells, you must get one. Or two. Or three.
This is a Purple Palace Coral Bells (Heuchera Micrantha 'Purple Palace') that I planted 4 years ago and it's absolutely huge now.
Sorry for the drainage pipes in the photo, but there's only so much "sprucing up" I can do when taking photos. I love you, but I'm not relocating gutters for you.
Have you gotten the fall mum bug yet?
Other posts you may enjoy:
How To Grow Peonies Your Neighbors Will Envy
ℳartina @ Northern Nesting
I love planting for fall, mums, cabbage and kale I love them all!
Your olive bucket looks so pretty! I use the purple fountain grass in planters around our pool, they thrive in the sun!
Carlene @ Organized Clutter
The planter looks great!
Stacey
Your purple fountain grass is so pretty. It's one of my favorites and we don't have any right now. I put two huge planters out by our porch this year with hibiscus in them. Believe it or not the wilt every day so they've been moved to the back and the front porch is naked! My plan is to put purple fountain grass next spring and it will be gorgeous. 🙂
Ashley @ The Houston House
Love it! I need to liven up our planters. My impatiens have looked awful because of ALL THE RAIN in Atlanta. Seriously, they look like they have tried to survive the swamp.
Curtains in My Tree
I can't get enough flower pots at my house
please don't worry about your drainage pipe in the picture, this is just reality and thaws' what blogging is all about the real thing right? LOL
Jane
I love the way you refreshed your planter! The grasses always add such a nice texture to any planter. I have been meaning to stop by the garden department at both Lowes and WalMart to see what they have going on. I have some mums that come up in the front flower bed every year, but I really love setting out some big colorful pots of them on the porch and steps! I am oh-so-ready for Fall this year!!!!
marie
Wonderful idea! I'm heading to Lowes tonight...maybe I can find something frun for my olive bucket!
Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME
Ok...that made me laugh....You won't replace your gutters for a blog picture. Well, the horror of it all! You have a great eye for putting the plants together. I could borrow you!!
Lottie
Ha! Ha! Great post! I have to move my planters inside the porch so they won't get soaked every day with all the rain in the South. Love the mums! Better get a head start this fall!
Lottie
Ha! Ha! Great post! I have to move my planters inside the porch so they won't get soaked every day with all the rain in the South. Love the mums! Better get a head start this fall!
Our Pinteresting Family
They look great. I picked up some planters and lanterns at Lowe's yesterday on clearance too. They've got a lot of options.
Brenda Kula
Haven't bought any mums yet. I love the purple fountain grass, but mine didn't come back from last summer.
Brenda
Joanne Noragon
I love coral bells. They go on my list for next year.
NanaDiana
That is so funny, Pam. I was so tempted at Walmart when I went there with the girls yesterday. I actually picked them up and looked at them but then went on inside the store and didn't get any. I need to get some before they are all gone-not that THAT has ever happened to me before- xo Diana
Shabby chic Sandy
I want some of those coral bells--very pretty. I think a lot of plants are really cheap right now--I just worry I won't be able to bring them back from death. 🙂
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
So pretty, Pam! You got a deal on the grass...perfect for this time of year!
Tricia
That looks great, Pam! The addition of the mum really perked things up. I can't wait to rip out my flowers and put in something for fall...they look so crappy right now.
Musings from Kim K.
I actually stopped and admired the mums when buying groceries tonight. I think I might pick up a few this weekend. Thanks for giving me permission to do so.
Heather - New House New Home
Great idea. I'm doing a round-up today on fall containers and would love to use this idea.
Sherry Gasparovic
i've already pulled my dried out Zinnias, Begonias and Petunias out of my planters. The Zinnias and Petunias went in the trash, the Begonias went in a hanging basket. Beautiful WalMart Mums went in the planters and they look wonderful. I picked buds, not flowers so they should stay for a while. I love the Fall!