Porch Garden Bed for Summer 2013
After sharing the transformation of my front tree bed last week I thought I would also share how things are shaping up with the plants for my porch garden bed.
This garden bed is always a bit of a struggle for me because of the wide range of lighting conditions. The front is heavily shaded by the two huge trees in my front yard, however the side gets full sun all day. Don't even get me started about trying to deal with the corner section.
Trying to figure out a cohesive design with plants that work in the various areas of the bed has been a bit of trial and error for me over the past few summers. I try new things and see what thrives and what doesn't. Of course I do some research about what conditions work best for a plant before I try it in a location, but that isn't always a surefire guarantee. I'm sure I will always be tinkering with this garden bed.
Across the front I have three boxwood shrubs. They seem to do well there and I like that they stay green over the long Michigan winter. Last year I planted some starfire dahlias for color in front of the boxwoods but the bunnies in my yard really enjoyed biting off the flower buds so I chalked that up to a failed experiment. This year I decided to go back planting New Guinea impatiens which have worked well in that spot in the past. The bunnies seem to leave them alone and they are happy in the shade.
For the past two years on the corner I have planted pink mandevilla which has worked really well. I wanted to do again this year, but I couldn't find a decent plant at the nursery. I spotted some calla lilies on sale at Lowe's however, and thought that I would give them a shot. I've planted them with success in between the boxwood before, but this spot is a bit sunnier so we will see how things go.
Along the side I have some small shrubs that I thought I killed back in the summer of 2011 when I was traveling around Southeast Asia for three weeks and they didn't get any water. Last year I pruned back the dead branches and they are really thriving now. I like that they have a different shape from the boxwood but the leaves are similar making it a nice tie-in. I also planted some pink superbells in front of the shrubs that I tried in that spot and worked well last year.
Up on the porch I have a few hanging baskets of fuschia and petunias. I am not a big fan of plastic planters so this year I repotted the plants in white metal Socker hanging planters from Ikea. At only $4.99 each they look nicer than the plastic and were pretty inexpensive as well.
I've had everything planted for a little bit with everything doing well so far. I'll just have to wait and see how the bed continues to grow over the rest of the summer.
If you are curious for reference, here is the same garden bed from last summer.
How is your summer gardening coming along? Do you have any difficult spots with mixed light?
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 8:28AM | Posted by Lisa | 6 Comments | Share Article | Email Article | Print Article 
Reader Comments (6)
Your front porch looks so lovely. The boxwood are looking very nice. I like like the white pails rather than plastic. Have you thought of hanging them at different lengths or would that block to much of your view?
I am always amazed what comes back even after I think I killed it. I have a new flowering plant in my garden, which I totally forget that I had received (from one of the members of my walking group) and I ripped most of them out thinking them weeds. I missed a few and thank goodness they had the good sense to hide from me - they are lovely (and multiplying). I love gardening.
Just call me "Mrs. Black Thumb." I kill every plant i come in contact with. I don't even try anymore.
Your plants look lovely, Lisa. The colors against your dark mulch are stunning. For some reason, it seems like everyone in my area uses red mulch, and I don't think it looks nearly as nice under the plants and flowers as yours does. I'll love seeing your gardening efforts and am happy to live vicariously though you.
Mary-Lou- Thank you! The hanging flowers are just the right height so that they don't block the view but I can still water them if I stand on my tip toes. I, too, am amazed at the things that keep coming back despite my neglect sometimes. Nature is pretty awesome!
Sandy- Thank you! I'm not a natural green thumb, but I keep at each year and am getting better at knowing what works in my yard. I like using the dark mulch because the dirt here is black so if I get a little dirt on my mulch you can't see it. I also think it makes a nice contrast against the green plants.
Your garden honestly looks so lovely, and just so neat!
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This article shares the author's experiences with their porch garden bed, dealing with varying light conditions and plant choices. They've experimented with different plants, facing challenges like bunny nibbles and travel-induced neglect. Despite setbacks, they've found success with boxwood shrubs, calla lilies, and pink superbells. Their attention to aesthetics, like repotting in metal planters, adds charm. It's a relatable and informative read, offering insights into the real-world trials of gardening.