Thursday, April 16, 2020

Planter Boxes

A week ago it was warm enough on Saturday that we got out in the yard and Mrs. F.G. worked hard to fill the new planter boxes, while I sat on the deck and got a dose of fresh air.  It hasn't been that warm since, but we're ready for the first day that is.

First a protective fabric and a layer of coarse gravel down in the bottom.

Next several inches of mulch and leaves from raking up the yard.

The important part was a deep layer of potting soil with some manure mixed in.

Finally a thin layer of mulch on top.  Now there's a good 16" for plant roots to grow through.

Mrs. F.G. had already picked up some pots of Pansies, so she sank those in the bed closest to the window I look out.  The local nursery has a 'contactless' shopping arrangement where you phone in your order, pay over the phone, and pick up your order which is placed outside waiting at a specified time.

The first of our planter box garden, even though they're not actually planted yet.  Certainly makes my view out the window more colourful.

Those poor shivering Pansies have been covered in snow four times since then; this is yesterday.

And yet the blooms just pop up again as the temperature warms, amazing!  Mrs. F.G. did harden them off, bringing them inside for the first 2 or 3 nights, but Pansies are the best early spring flowers here for surviving low temperatures.




18 comments:

  1. Thank you (both) for sharing your wonderful raised planting beds. Yellow pansies are just what we need right now.
    Joy

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  2. so much work for mrs. fg, but the first planter looks (looked) really good. our garden center has the same procedure in place, we have yet to go. the hubs had our mulch delivered from home depot. the delivery was super expensive but it was a good choice. the lines just to get in to home depot have been very long!!

    poor pansies but i'm sure they will be fine!!

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  3. Down here, we have had pansies flower from May until September, admittedly our winter days might be more like your spring, but they continue to be one of the best long keepers I know. Love your planters,. a true craftsman there, a great design, and the snow, you might be on the way to spring but it still continues to show up and cover the flowers.

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  4. I do the same thing, once my pots are ready to receive the new plants, I plop them on top to admire them for awhile. Those are some hardy pansies! :-)

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  5. I have been looking for some pansies to put out.

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  6. Nice to have a blast of color when first looking out the window. I like the idea of the raised planter boxes where the foliage will be at eye level for you and much easier for both you and Mrs. FG to access the plants. No having to bend over and bend an aging back down to the ground and all that stuff.

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  7. Plants should sure grow great in those planters!!

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  8. Never understood why the word pansy was ever used to bad mouth a person someone considered weak. Pansies are one tough flower!

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  9. That is amazing with the pansies. They are one of my favorite flowers, and I would enjoy them outside my window.

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  10. Love the yellow pansies -- they certainly brighten the day.

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  11. Every early spring my grandmother used to say she was looking forward to seeing her "happy little faces", as she called her perennial pansies.

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  12. Pansies are very hardy. It almost looks like they like snow.

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  13. Such cheerful blooms even in the snow:)

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  14. Pansies are survivors! I really like those planter boxes. You will get years of enjoyment from them.
    Thanks for your comment on my blog!
    Have a blessed day!

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  15. I am sure you will get years out of those planter boxes. I like the way that you have layered the material of fabric, stone, mulch and potting soil with manure mix. The plants should do very well. Will be looking forward to seeing them all grow. Take care and stay healthy to you both.

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  16. The boxes are lovely and those pansies are just as tough as you are! Mrs. F.G. is doing a wonderful job on both counts. I didn't realize the little flower was so hardy.
    Thank you for sharing! Stay well!

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  17. That is a great looking flower box. Those pansies are tough and will live through all of that weather.

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