I need your help. Remember how pretty our porch looked after my makeover?
See those pretty green topiary trees? Well, here is what they look like today…
They are kind of taking on an Autumn-ish color eh? Ok, yes, they are dead. Big fat DEAD. The porch does not get enough sunlight and the trees needed full sun. Yes, I did water them, and you can tell that because my other plants are doing good. :) My caladiums are overflowing in that pot and I need to move them too.
SO, what I am asking all of you lovely people who actually know something about gardening is, what can I put here instead? I want something that is tall and narrow for height, low maintenance, and is a shade plant. Heck, I’m not even opposed to some fake trees, but those are expensive.
Please help me because I will just go and buy something that is pretty and throw my money away because it will also die in 2 months.
Thank you! *Smooches*
xxoo,
Decorchick!
I would say go for some “fake” spiral topiary type plant Just watch for a great sale. sometimes you can find real looking ones if you are not in a hurry at Joanns or Michaels and the n you can use that great 40% off coupon too
Will do, thanks so much!
OMG, sooo glad you are posting this because I’m dying to get some of those for our porch and I SUCK at all things planty AND they are pretty pricey. You have to tell me what you end up getting!
Wall art giveaway on my blog if interested…
Thanks, I’ll let you know!
Sorry, I have no idea what would work in a low light situation. They really were beautiful but maybe you should get some faux topiary trees. That is the route I would take. I have a problem with killing everything I plant though. Good luck.
Brooke
Thanks Brooke. The fake ones are sounding good. :)
While I’m hardly a plant expert, may I suggest you pull those trees out of the pots and take a look at the roots. They sure look big for those small(ish) pots. If the roots are bound up and there is very little soil, than I think they may have died from becoming root bound, ie- not enought nutrients to sustain them.
Your light situation doesn’t appear too bad and I would recommend two very small Sky Pencil Hollies for those pots. The soil level should be higher, like one to two inches from the lip of the pot. You shouldn’t see the glaze drips on the inside of the pot. Just give me a yell when you pick out your plants and I’ll run over and help. Just kiddin….I’m way too busy!
Thanks for the suggestions Genny I appreciate it!!
Home Depot has a one year warranty on plants if you do decide to replace them. Just save your reciept and they die and you take them back and get new.
Hmm didn’t know that, but I know I don’t have my receipt. Plus, it was me that killed them! :)
I have to agree with Genny that your light doesn’t bad for an evergreen. But the soil looks very low. They should be planted higher in the pot and does the pot have drainage? I really loved those topiaries, sorry they didn’t work out for you.
I know in the pic it seems like I get a lot of light, but it doesn’t. Especially in the 2 back corners where the topiaries are. But yea, the soil is very low so I’m sure that’s mostly the problem.
You could also try going to your local nursery, and they could tell you and show you exactly what your choices could be.
We have 2 dwarf spruces leading up our walkway that get VERY minimal light and have done pretty well.
Great, thanks for the suggestion!
How about you keep the plant and take all of the leaves and tiny branches off of it so that you have a tall stick in the pot, then you go and grab some fabulous greenery from the dollar store and make your own fake tree??? you could probably even do it for fall with autumn colored stuff from the dollar store..
OR on the top color a foam ball green and wrap the fake greenery around it and then down the stick into the base of the plant.. you are very creative YOU CAN DO IT..
Haha, thanks Kendra. Not a bad idea. Just don’t think the styrofoam balls would hold up well with the wind?
I was thinking along the same lines as Kendra. At least that way you can add some fall color leaves to it temporarily and leave “evergreen” for the rest of the year! However, I agree, the “dead” topiaries don’t look like there was enough soil!
Yea, probably not!
this is why i don’t garden. or plant. or anything of the sort. i tried to grow a tomato once. yeah, that didn’t work out so welll….
but the rest of your porch looks great!! :)
Ha, I totally understand Rebecca!
Your porch looks great. IO would just turn to trees into fall topiaries, with artificial fall leaves. Then at christmas make winter topiaries.
I had that problem on my covered front porch (so my lighting was really low), I got tired of throwing money away on evergreen topiaries and ended up finding two spiral fake topiaries on sale to put in there. I had them now for years, so I’ve gotten my monies worth (they are the heavier plastic, not the silk variety). Most people think they are real. I add fall foliage or mini pumpkins around the base for fall and white lights and big bows on top for Christmas. When they get dirty, we just hose them down. My brother is a landscaper and said that any kind of topiary/evergreen in a pot is very hard to keep up…has to be the right size pot, with good drainage, have to receive the right amount of water and sunlight, etc.
Hmm, thanks for letting me know Lauren. I did want to decorate them for the seasons, but yea, that’s not happening now! Maybe I can find some good fakes?
Fake outside? Never! Try some junipers that are fast growing and can be shaped into topiaries if you are clever or rounded or christmas tree shape. And they greet your guests with a great scent!
Thank you for the suggestion Diane, I’ll keep that in mind!
What direction does your front yard face (east, north). I am a Master Gardener through the University of Illinois, and it does look like the pots are small, and not enough dirt. Were the top of the root ball showing? How much dirt on bottom of pot, if little then the shrub will dry out quicker.
Plants there first year, wether in the ground or in pots need more water than normal the first year. They are “adjusting” to their new environment.
Once I know direction your porch is facing I can make suggestions.
Cathy
Hey Cathy, the porch faces East. Thanks for your help!
I have no advice! I only buy fake plants because I can’t keep real ones alive! I’ve enjoyed the comments so far and look forward to more!
I’m with Allison, and will be watching the comments and making notes.
The standing joke at my house is, “if it’s green it’s fake or has a death wish”. My son rescues all live plants that well meaning friends give me, family knows I’m a lost cause.
I have some varigated ivy that I planted in a pot and put a pyramid topiary frame on top. In one year the ivy has covered the frame nicely. I have shady light underneath a big japanese maple. I don’t water them too much as they will get some rain on them. So, they are pretty easy and low maintenance. If I think of it, I’ll try to take a picture tomorrow for you.
Brittany
http://www.prettyhandygirl.com
I know you love the topiaries but you might want to consider a couple of pots of ivy. I have two iron stands on my porch with ivy. It withstands drought and it stays green all winter. There are a lot of different varieties to choose from and you can train it over anything decorative.
Just a thought. :) Love your blog!
You could do 2 arborvitaes there. I love the triangular shape of them when they come in pots from the store or nursery and they’re a little slow growing, so it would be awhile til you’d need to move them somewhere to plant. Plus the have an evergreen appeal to them that’ll make em so pretty throughout this fall and winter!
Howdy, There are some good suggestions here. The Ilex crenata “Sky Pencil’ would be good as would the Picea glauca , Dwarf Alberta Spruce. The Spruce would be very good for a Christmas tree look.
There are also some nice Buxus cultivars that should do quite well, Boxwoods are the classic ‘hedge’ plant.
At first blush, I would say that your pots are too small and of course water is always an issue. I can help you set up an automatic watering system if you like, plants respond very well to regular watering.
If you would like I could send a sketch of how to use a battery operated timer and some tubing to get this done. It’s very easy!
It’s not that hard to grow plants, please don’t use fake plants. Greg
I finally took some pics of the ivy topiary pots that flank our front stoop. You can view them here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53643770@N05/sets/72157624887943268/with/4961716495/
Brittany
http://www.prettyhandygirl.com