Thursday, September 02, 2010

Yanking

We all know what yanking means, it is ruthless, not kind and definitely is the end of something.  Believe me, yanking is not easy to do, it somehow means we were not successful.  Oh, I know, the weather is to blame, not enough water, etc., but the end result is yanking!

I have been trying to rejuvenate these two hanging baskets by placing them on the ground and watering constantly.  I think they are going in the yard waste bag today, too much labor this late in the season.

I have yanked my hayracks on the north side of the house, my hanging basket by the back fence, my concrete pots in front of the garage and my hanging basket by the back fence.  I have salvaged some other hanging containers by bringing them down to the ground and keeping them there for watering.

Here's another one I was trying to save.  I have been tripping over all of these containers on my patio.

This is not something I like doing as many years I have enjoyed my annuals well into the fall season.  Not this year, I already have pansies hiding in the garage from the intense sun and heat, a few cabbages too.  It is supposed to cool off next week, can we believe this? 


Lemon Twist got so big it lost a large stem.
I will slowly be going around the garden taking plants out that are no longer viable, like my coleus that has grown beyond bounds, my impatiens around the front tree that look trampled and water starved, some of my tomato plants that look brown and savaged by the weather.  Oh well, I had better look at my alley garden as I have certainly neglected this one!

This is a basket that still looks good hanging on the fence in a protected spot from the sun.

I think I am ready for this!

These are faux pumpkins (you know I have that squirrel problem) from the craft store.  They are getting better and better looking each year.  Do you think the squirrels are going to try and bite them?  I'll keep them in the garage for a while because the real ones are not around here yet.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Eileen, I know that if I were a plant in your garden, or indeed one of your containers, I should be on my best behaviour at all times for fear of being 'yanked' and consigned to a waste bag!

Watch out, watch out, Eileen's about!!

Gatsbys Gardens said...

I know Edith, they are not responding to my care. The only thing that has kept me from dismissing them is today's rain, but there is always tomorrow!

Eileen

Lona said...

Hi Eileen. Oh girl, I so know what you mean. This has been the first summer I have had such awful looking containers and window boxes. Even with all of the watering mine look dreadful. Usually these are what keep my garden in color into the Fall but not this year. All I could do was shake my head this morning while watering and wondering if it was all just a waste of good well water. LOL!

Abbie said...

you have inspired me -- I have some sorry looking baskets of petunias that I have been trying to nurse along....better to send them into the compost. sigh.

Balisha said...

I have my garden here at home and also the Grotto at Church. The petunias looked so bad, when I went over to water...you guessed it..I yanked them out. They look kind of dreadful here at home too. I just got some Japanese Anemone in the mail and will wait till cooler days to plant them. Balisha

Gatsbys Gardens said...

I know, Lona, feeling guilty about throwing aways plants, but they were over.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Abbie, I saw a small composter today at Whole Foods. I think I could find a place for it in my small yard.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Balisha, I did get rid of two more containers today and put in some violas and coffee twist grass - left the orange zinnias. They look so much better.

Eileen

Diana LaMarre said...

Great post! It makes me feel good about not planting any hanging baskets this year!

I got disillusioned with petunias a few years ago...too much dead heading...I do love to see them in other gardens, though.

It is always sad to have to yank plants out, but in the long run, everything looks much better once it's done.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Yes, I know what you mean about yanking. I've started doing that too already. I always have a hard time doing it and usually try to make myself wait until it's at least September. Your fall container looks so fresh and pretty. I found a little sedum that looks similar to the one in there.

BernieH said...

Oh Eileen ... I'm a regular 'yanker'. Here it's such a common occurrence in my garden ... the heat, the dry or the wet keeps me on my toes constantly running around looking after potted plants. I've given up getting upset over the losses now ... it's just too savage on my poor old gardening ego! Now my attitude is ... let's move onto something more suitable ... maybe next year I'll try that again.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Zoey, some of the supertunias and superbells do not require deadheading but this did not prevent them from turning brown from the top ddown this year. I cut them back but this didn't seem to matter.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Catherine, that sedum is Vera Jameson - works well hanging over things like walkways, containers, raised beds, etc.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Bernie, that's the only attitude to have, just move on and try again.

Eileen