I Finished Planting the Container Garden

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through links on my site, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

I finished planting my front porch and yard container gardens a few days ago. But it rained for days, so I couldn’t take photos to show you.

I planted perennials, flowers, and herbs, although I haven’t yet located a few herbs I want, such as pineapple sage and lemon balm. However, I did find lemon verbena at the garden nursery and planted it in one of the pots above the porch.

this Idea

I also added another Japanese maple tree opposite the other one in the front yard beds.

I haven’t done much to the porch, so today, I’m all about the beds on either side of the porch steps.

Before & After Photos:

Here’s a before-and-after of the house I’m renting from my daughter, Kendra. I moved in on November 1. There’s a pretty big difference.

Mamie looks pretty sad on the left. The house needed repainting to restore some of its beauty.

A house is more than four walls; it is also a home. It needed a little makeover, and I was happy to accommodate. Now, she is all dressed up (except for the unstained railings) in a brightly colored outfit.

Yesterday, I sent Kendra the above before-and-after images, and she loved how the containers looked in front of the house. We think the container plants in front of Mamie tone down the house’s bright blue paint.

Why Plant Your Garden In Containers?

I love how it looks to mix container plants with plants in the ground. It is visually more appealing because the eye has multiple points of rest.

Growing up, we had a large garden and flower beds, but all were planted in the soil. I didn’t know anything about container gardens back then.

There are many reasons to plant a garden in containers:

• Containers make it much easier to provide the right conditions for plants.
• Gardening in containers provides a way to add color and texture, and enjoy the benefits of gardening without a traditional yard.
• Containers can be easily moved around to optimize sunlight exposure, protect plants from harsh weather conditions, or rearranged for aesthetic purposes.
• Gardening in containers can help prevent weed and pest problems. The soil is contained and less exposed to external factors.
• Containers can be used to create beautiful displays on porches and patios.

Those Who Benefit from a Container Garden:

Those with physical disabilities and older people might find it easier to plant a container garden. If need be, they can find a way to sit while planting rather than stand.

Beginning gardeners find planting in containers easier because the learning curve is shorter. If plants in a pot are getting too much sun or shade, they can be moved.

If you plant a pot with a combination of plants, you can better control their exposure. Choose all-sun, all-shade, or semi-shade in a container for a beautiful display.

“The light is what guides you home, the warmth is what keeps you there.” – Ellie Rodriguez

The Cost Of Plants & Container Gardens:

I’ve spent a good bit of money on Mamie’s front yard. Because I moved when my plants were dormant, I had to repurchase perennials. But luckily, they’re here to stay, and so am I.

When you garden in containers, you can move a plant or plants indoors during inclement weather, reducing the risk of them dying. That saves you money because you don’t have to replace it after winter.

“The home should be the treasure chest of living.” – Le Corbusier

I Left Some of My Containers Behind:

I left some of my galvanized containers with my former neighbor, Lynn (who lived above Ron and Pat at the apartments), because she’d already planted flowers in them the summer before. So I told her to keep them.

This meant I only brought a few pots to this house, and I had to look for more containers for my garden this year. I found what I needed at excellent prices at Walmart and Amazon, and ordered them online. Now, I have a decent supply of pots for my container gardens.

I ordered all my potting soil from Walmart and Home Depot. Walmart’s shipping was free because I have a subscription for grocery delivery.

“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.” – George Moore

The perennials I planted are already looking pretty perky, probably because they got a lot of rain over the weekend.

As you can see, the red Japanese maple tree I’ve had in this container for years is growing leaves from the bottom up. Strange, I thought. But every day, I see more and more as the leaves climb up the branches. Something may be wrong with the tree. I’ll have to find out what it could be.

The new Japanese maple tree got blown over during a thunderstorm last week and tumbled out of the blue pot. I got it upright again and put rocks on top of the soil to help keep it grounded in the wind.

“Maples are such sociable trees … They’re always rustling and whispering to you. – Lucy Maud Montgomery 

When An Old House Is Loved:

You can tell when a house is loved. Over the years, this century-old house’s exterior had lost its glow and beauty. Now, some of that beauty has been restored.

The three kitties and I are home, the most important place on earth to be. It feels so good to be home!

“Home sweet home. This is the place to find happiness. If one doesn’t find it here, one doesn’t find it anywhere.” – M. K. Soni