This happens in my online group all the time. Gardeners post images of pathetic, clearly ailing, sometimes two-thirds dead shrubs, perennials, and annuals all the time. Who knows how long these plants have been offering a less-than-attractive spectacle to their owners and visitors? Why haven’t they been uprooted or at least cut back and replaced/screened? The answer: loyalty and hope. With perennials, we can always assume they’ll happily bounce back the next season (maybe) and with annuals there might be some magical solution—trimming, fertilizing, repotting—that the owners keeps meaning to try.
I am totally guilty here. I have put up with plant fail on every level without taking the immediate action that’s likely required. This year, one issue was longer-than-acceptable rebloom times. I had a couple perennial salvias (maybe ‘Azure Snow’) that put up a decent amount of bloom sometime in June and then got busy spreading their ratty foliage—clearly attractive to insects—all over the bed. Never saw another flower. Meanwhile, my annual salvias performed like champs, with tall blooms that are still coming. I finally pulled out the losers a few weeks ago.
I’m even worse with hanging baskets. I got a lovely basket of osteospermums (close-up above), without bothering to learn that they hate hot weather. No amount of fertilizing helped and I finally took it down in favor of some lovely mandevilla. Same with the Thunbergia alata that thrilled me until I couldn’t overlook the stringy stems in favor of the regular blooms any longer. As it is, I overlooked this unsightly behavior in a high-profile spot for way, way, too long.
Is it wasteful to simply replace plants—still alive whatever else they may be—on a regular basis to keep the garden looking fresh? I’m not running a botanical garden, after all. This year, I have decided that the answer is no; the gardener’s happiness outweighs the discouragement of finally having to give up on underperformers. Isn’t that why we’re doing all this work?
It is significant that I could only find one image of any of the plants in question.
The eternal optimism of the stubborn gardener indeed.
I lost my porch tomatoes in this summers heat wave. It was rather frustrating.
I ended up going with blueberries instead for my porch garden. My kids like the berries and they’re perennials, so I don’t need to hassle with taking in the tomatoes every year – if I do it right I should be able to enjoy berries every year.
Many people consider plants a version of pets……..
That’s true for me. A plant is a responsibility. Someone raised and nurtured it until it was mature enough to sell and I feel obligated to continue caring for it, figuring out why it’s unhappy and meeting its needs. Every loss is a bit of drama. Farewell plant, I loved thee well.
My local greenhouse owner would be delighted if people regularly replaced ailing plants. We should get the word out that even some summer annuals aren’t going to last all season. When they fizzle out, replace them!
I am very popular at my garden center for this reason.
I had a similar problem with Scaevola. I planted them in a couple of containers – the strong blue color offered a great contrast with the pinks and oranges of the Lantanas they were paired with. But about mid-season the Scaevola began to shrivel up. I figured they weren’t getting enough water during our very dry summer even though the Lantana seemed to be doing very well, so I increased the watering regimen. The Scaevola totally croaked a few weeks ago, and a Google search informed me that they don’t like a lot of water. Thus it was I who killed them. Next year I’ll know better how to pair up different flowers in a container!
I am an avid gardener and have the same problem with dahlias. How long can I say a cultivar may be better next year. Not too many in a small Virginia Garden. My spouse is Grace Rizzo, who grew up in your beautiful city.
Aw, thanks! We love it here.
My philosophy is generally “when in doubt, rip it out.” I have little tolerance for weaklings in my gardens. If I think it has a decent chance somewhere else, then I will move it once. Life is too short.
It takes me far too long to get rid of the pathetic plants too. Sometimes it doesn’t happen for a few years and wham! a mood overtakes me and they finally join the compost pile. Maybe annuals should be labeled for their prime season to encourage us to come back and replace them.
So glad I found this site (Through Johanna of “Put a Plant on it” A lovely, smart lady. I’ve been hapazardly gardening most of my life. Best place for Plants was Indiana. Worst was Valley Forge, PA. Not enough sun, and soil was thin. I’m very old now, but just fell in love with Calla Lilies. Received a beautiful pot of many colored ones. It did fine and the next year came up with only lovely leaves. (I know probably needed Phosphorous) Bought more bulbs? planted them and soon white thread like things started appearing above ground. Did I plant them upside down. Hmmmm. Nope dug one up and it was fine. Waited patiently and gorgeous leaves arose. Many curled like the lilies, but green. All summer and I am still waiting for a flower!!!!! Shirley VH (Now I cut them back and into garage they go for “winter” (Here in South TX.)