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The Impatient Gardener

green planters with green foliage
Garden

Big planter roundup

March 29, 2022

If there is a support group for planter addicts, let me know, because I need it. I love a good container, but finding one is a different matter.  I have two non-negotiable requirements for most… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
17 Comments
window box
Containers, Garden, Plants

The year’s containers

July 5, 2018

I waited a bit to show you what I did for containers at my house this year, partly because other gardening projects have been stealing attention, but also because all containers look a little better… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
15 Comments
Containers, Garden

HOW THIS YEAR’S CONTAINERS CAME TOGETHER

June 15, 2017

As promised, last weekend I banged out all the container planting (save for three small containers on the front steps that I usually plant with whatever I have leftover).   I like to show the… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
6 Comments
Garden

GREAT CONTAINERS AT ANY PRICE

April 27, 2016

Yesterday I wrote about the factors to consider when choosing a container. You can read it here, but I broke it down to four factors: Size (err on the side of bigger) Style (what suits… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
2 Comments
Garden

DIY: WOODEN PLANTER WITH LEAD TRIM

June 11, 2014

Since it’s finally finished and planted, I think it’s high time I share with you how we built the wood planter by the front door. When the old planter fell apart after five or six… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
5 Comments
Cottage, DIY

EVEN I WOULDN’T PAINT THIS WOOD WHITE

April 2, 2014

Over the weekend I went to the lumber yard. I guess that’s what you’d call it anyway. It was a place that specialized in hardwood.You may be wondering why a person like myself, who has… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
3 Comments

About

The Impatient Gardener

Do you love gardening? Me too! I'm Erin and I garden in Southeastern Wisconsin, zone 5. The Impatient Gardener is all about real-life gardening: the good parts, the bad bits and even the funny stuff. It's part information, part inspiration and a little bit commiseration. Thanks for visiting.

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Erin Schanen 🌿 The Impatient Gardener
Three years ago I planted 10 ‘Royal Raindrops’ Three years ago I planted 10 ‘Royal Raindrops’ crabapple whips and then (after a gin) cut them all off about 16 inches from the ground. And so began the training of the espalier Belgian fence (no, I don’t know why it’s called that, it’s just what that form of espalier is called). It is blooming fabulously this year and in need of a few more extensions of the framework to help guide the branches but I’m thrilled with the progress it has made in a relatively short time. Video update coming soon but I didn’t want to miss showing the blooms.
I still believe that the biggest game changer in a I still believe that the biggest game changer in a garden and the single best way to make a less-than-perfect garden look amazing is a fresh edge. Weeds? Who cares. Bare spots? Nobody will know. A fresh edge tidies even the most disheveled garden right up. And even though I have a ton of planting to do, I spent a good amount of time today working on edges because it’s just that good. I use my @troybilt gas edger to cut the edge and follow up with the @sneeboer half moon edger. By the way, I’d give up my lawn mower before I gave up that gas edger. I didn’t get all the beds done but I did do the ones I see the most from the house so I can stare out the window and just think, “Damn, that looks good.”
Great diagonals courtesy of Polygonatum (Solomon’s seal) in the shade garden. Athyrium niponicum (Japanese painted fern) and ‘Dawn’s Early Light’ playing rare backup roles as the Polygonatum is allowed to have its moment in the sun … er … shade.
I love the small flowers of Epimedium. I’m grate I love the small flowers of Epimedium. I’m grateful that they bloom early in the season because their delicate blooms would probably be overlooked if they bloomed later when they would have to compete with big, brash, attention-demanding flowers in the summer garden. They are great for dry shade but they really need moisture to get established before they will get on with things.
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