topic Re: when do you empty annual pots? in Garden

when do you empty annual pots?

traveler — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:15:08 GMT

Temperature high will be in low 60s this week and rainy. Some of my annuals are looking a bit scraggly and I am tired of deadheading petunias. I'm trying to hang until Labor Day.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

brii — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:17:26 GMT

Mine still look okay, but they are getting kind of straggly looking. As soon as I see some fall mums, I will replace them.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

curlywhitedog — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:21:46 GMT

We close the pool mid September and bring any of the plants down there up onto the deck where we'll continue to care for them until either we get sick of doing it or they start to die, whichever comes first.

My plants did well this year, especially my Bougainvillaea which is growing up and over the arbor like crazy. That's the only plant I'll hate to say goodbye to. If this winter isn't particularly harsh it might make it planted in the ground but it's in a pot so definitely not.

Maria

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

traveler — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:24:27 GMT

Yesterday I saw 4" mums at Fred Meyers. I have iris seeds, arctic pooies and forget me not seeds to plant. Never did that before, always used iris bulb.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

JeanLouiseFinch — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:47:40 GMT

I've already pitched a couple. Others are still OK, so I'll baby them along until they are spent, but Labor Day is about right. My hydrangeas are still producing flowers. I might have a couple of weeks without color, but then will get some mums to place around.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

stilltamn8r — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 16:19:22 GMT

In Southern California???? Never..unless I want a change of color.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

FrostyBabe — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 16:21:55 GMT

I've pitched a couple that looked pretty fried/scraggly already, but typically I dump them when the first frost hits.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

151949 — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 16:27:03 GMT

I like to keep them as long as I can. When we lived in Pa year round I kept them til the frost got them. Now we will leave for Fl before then so I will toss them out while they are still alive which makes me sad.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

AnikaBrodie — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 18:08:17 GMT

Typically after the first hard frost.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

poshmini — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 19:21:37 GMT

If they are bad off and gone to seed or just dried out from the heat, I pull them, put the pot aside till fall mums come out and winter pansies. Petunias seem to get that way fast, and have had them as well gone on me already. Best thing for pots are the geraniums they seem to make it through the heat, have great color and need little care other than a dead head now and then. I try to get plants that will thrive through the Virginia heat, and can go with out watering a lot. But when they look bad, time to just take them out, better to have nothing than a bunch of ratty looking plants. Just think of what you can do for fall to fill those containers, that's what I do.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

lulu2 — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 19:25:19 GMT

I change the pots on the porch to mums mid-September.

Usually by now my annuals and hanging baskets look horrible. This summer they still look beautiful. We have not had many 90+ days so that may have something to do with it.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

RedTop — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 20:04:54 GMT

Here in southern WV, my plants are usually good until the first frost, which is September or early October. I revitalized my petunias by cutting them back about 2 weeks ago, and with the rain and cooler weather, they are growing well and will bloom again in another week or so.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

RibbonsRosesRainbows — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 20:07:28 GMT

Sometimes I don't because a few have come back and I don't know how they did that.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

brewhaha — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 20:28:44 GMT

When the buds are ready.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

MotivatedMomma — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:22:49 GMT

I'll admit it, I'm lazy... mine don't usually come out until the spring when I pot the new ones. Although for the first time ever I've been considering some mums this year....

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

GCR18 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 00:06:20 GMT

I only planted geraniums this year. They love the cooler weather and have lots of blooms. They should be good thru September, then I'll empty the pots and put them away until next June.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

luvmyteddy4 — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 12:21:42 GMT

I wait until they are dead and pull the tops off. I keep the dirt and reuse every year. Good old dirt from my yard with blood meal thrown in.

The best thing I every did was plant mums and didn't know mine bloomed twice a year. They are blooming now. I have 14 in 7 different colors in the front yard.

Geraniums are the next best thing, they always look good and last long.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

emmysmom — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 14:00:29 GMT

On 8/13/2014 traveler said:
Temperature high will be in low 60s this week and rainy. Some of my annuals are looking a bit scraggly and I am tired of deadheading petunias. I'm trying to hang until Labor Day.

I thought I was the only one, lol. Mine are looking tired too..I may dump them next week. I am SO looking forward to Mums, ornamental cabbage..pansies..the fall colors! CAN'T wait!

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

kibbi — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:43:50 GMT

late sept for all annuals EXCEPT geraniums. Those go til late Nov. on my porch. I also plant pots of pansies, instead of mums, for fall color to put on my porch.

Re: when do you empty annual pots?

VaBelle35 — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 18:15:43 GMT

I will probably change mine out in mid-September. My petunias still look nice.

The owner of a local nursery told me years ago that he fertilizes/feeds his hanging pots every day/every time he waters with a weak solution.

I do the same thing. I put a tsp of Miracle Grow for Flowers in a gallon of water and use that on my hangers.