What To Do With The Strawberry Tower - A Plan for Yellow Annuals

My strawberries hate my strawberry tower. They actually run from it.

Final 12 months in my guide writing backyard absence, I allow them to (the strawberry vegetation) run as they wished as I used to be failing the time to reign them in. Subsequently, when you drive by my home this weekend, you will notice an indication on the finish of the driveway. It says this: “Free Strawberry Crops – You Dig”.

Strawberry tower by rochelle greayer www.pithandvigor.com — The picket strawberry tower – empty. All of the strawberry vegetation ran for the underside and have been a lot happier rising within the floor. It’s time for a re-think.

I’ve determined to not struggle them (the strawberry vegetation) on this strawberry tower planting subject anymore. As an alternative, I’m going to allow them to have among the backyard pathways that they insist on taking on.

They appear to be pleased with me strolling over them occasionally, and I admire that they’re fairly efficient at choking out some other weed which may wish to take maintain. Plus, there may be the profusion of homegrown strawberries. I actually can’t argue with that.

Now that the Strawberries are gone – What to do with the Strawberry tower?

However I’m uncertain of what to do with the tower. I’ve a couple of ideas…the primary is to fill it with a succulent backyard. I feel that will be a surprising point of interest, however my actuality is that I stay in Massachusetts – not Southern California and the choice of hardy succulents is proscribed. A lot in order that I feel this plan would doubtless turn into nothing greater than a examine in Hens and Chicks.

The second is to fill it with herbs – an concept that I additionally love, however frankly – given the intense quantity of herbs I’ve planted all through the remainder of my backyard – it’s one thing that I actually don’t want. So I feel my final thought – to fill it with a placing assortment of annuals is the place I’m going to finish up.

Yellow color study planting by rochelle greayer www.pithandvigor.com — A yellow impressed yellow annuals planting plan for a brand new strawberry tower backyard. From prime to backside, a special plant for each layer. Hopefully, it can create a sunny yellow central backyard characteristic. It options Diamond Frost Euphorbia, Nemesia Coconut, Lantana Luscious Lemonade, Flambe Yello Chrysocephalum apiculatum, and Goldilocks Rocks Bidens hybrid.

I’m not so massive on combined containers and discover that single-plant containers are simpler for me to handle. Plus, I favor a extra trendy look – however I feel that is the place for an exception of types. The layers of the strawberry tower are calling out to me; they appear to be asking for a coloration examine in ascending stripes.

I’m selecting yellow and plan to work a gradation from white to deep yellow over the 5 ranges (I’ll let the strawberries have the underside since it’s what they insist). There’s a little fear behind my head that the Coconut nemesia is not going to just like the place (being a shade lover) however it is a tough kind of factor since one aspect will get far more solar than the opposite. I’m trying ahead to seeing how this experiment works out over the season.

A yellow-inspired annual planting plan for the strawberry tower:

Diamond Frost Euphorbia – Diamond Frost Euphorbia (Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’) is just like the “glitter” of the backyard. With its delicate, ethereal look, its tiny, white, cloud-like flowers appear to drift above the foliage, making a dreamy, ethereal impact. It flowers profusely from spring to fall and offers a mushy, romantic backdrop or a starry accent. I selected it as a result of it’s straightforward to take care of and versatile (hopefully filling out on each the sunny and shady aspect of the tower).

A garden with a variety of plants, including a strawberry tower for planting. — Hosta ‘Mouse Ears’, Euphorbia Diamond Frost, Juniperus ‘Blue Star’, Tricyrtis sp, Helleborus foetidus in a shade backyard. picture by Ok M.

Nemesia Coconut – I’ll be sincere – I don’t get the ‘coconut’ identify of this nemesis. It seems to be like popped popcorn to me. White with yellow facilities, nemesia usually likes a bit of shade, so I’m hopeful that the vegetation above and beneath will shade it barely. I may be hoping for an excessive amount of.

Lantana Luscious Lemonade – Lantana loves the solar and can tolerate the drier situations of the tower with ease. I hope that will probably be so blissful and wholesome that it’ll fill in different layers which may not work as nicely. Fingers-crossed.

A close up of yellow flowers in a **field**. — Chrysocephalum apiculatum by Margaret Donald.

Flambe Yellow Chrysocephalum apiculatum – With its silver foliage, you may inform that Chrysocephalum or Strawflower is a contented solar and warmth lover. The yellow flowers are deep, and I feel that the feel of this plant will distinction properly with the flat flowers of the Bidens and the softness of the nemesis.

Goldilocks Rocks Bidens hybrid. – Bidens are nice rock backyard vegetation and this lowest space (proper above the strawberries) are award-winning for his or her floriferous toughness.

A yellow flower in a pot with strawberry tower planting. — Bidens Goldilocks by Peter Stevens.

Finish of Season Replace:

This planting was okay – however as suspected, among the much less robust vegetation that don’t need full baking solar (struggled). The nemesis was depressing, and I noticed the tower actually has a moisture retention downside. It is sensible, given how tall it’s and the way laborious it’s to water. I’m again to questioning if the herb backyard thought may be so much higher in future seasons.

Extra Strawberry Tower Posts:

Pictures: Pictures courtesy of confirmed winners and rochelle greayer.