As part of our weekend front porch refresh, I finally planted in our front porch planters. Our lonely planters have needed some love for quite some time. As far as looks go, I love boxwoods and had plenty of inspiration; however, when I went shopping, the boxwoods were another story. I found that larger established boxwoods, with a nice cylinder shape, were running about a hundo a plant, and that's when I went with the Emerald Globe........two for $100. Much better than two for $200!
I went big box first and then small local nursery and had some conversations. According to the green thumb experts, before I purchased and planted I needed to think:
1. Direct sunlight: This is most important, because if I cannot get at least 3 hours of direct sunlight, I will have some serious problems growing anything. This is when I knew that I would need to pull my planters forward to the steps because I get zero sunlight due to the covered porch and surrounding mature trees.
2. Weight: According to my local nursery, I'll be back to their shop to purchase a solid, cement planter. That is, after mine topples over from the wind. Time will tell, but for now I am a sticking with my Southeastern Salvage cement look alike planters.
Materials Needed From the Nursery: 2 oversized planters / 4 bags of fertilizer soil mix // 2 bags of rocks // Handful of plastic bottles and / or milk jugs // landscape bricks // 2 emerald globes // 6 green ivy plants // 2 dark sweet potato vines
Tools: Drill // Large drill bit, 1/2 inch or so // gardening gloves
4 Steps For The Porch Planter:
Purchases complete, I rolled up my sleeves and put on the gloves. The following are my 4 steps for building the perfect porch planter:
1. Drill: Drill a hole in the bottom of the planter to allow for water drainage,
2. Weight: I added weight to the bottom of the planter. We had some landscaping bricks on the side of our house, left by the previous owners. I also purchase two bags of rocks from Lowes and added these.
3. Filler: My big box help suggest filler, like empty bottles or milk cartons to take up space without adding weight. The jury is out on whether or not this is a good idea. I guess it goes against the idea of making the planter heavier. Enter at your own risk with this step!
4. Soil: It was recommended that I purchase a fertilizer mix soil. Lowes has the Sta-Green bags on sale 2 for $10 this week for pre-Labor Day. In went the soil and the Emerald Globe, Green Ivy and Dark Potato Vine
Viola!
