When spring finally arrives, one of the first things to do is clean the winter debris off the deck, set out our patio furniture and cushions, and begin to enjoy the more favorable temperatures. And to make it the deck pretty, you should add color with pots of flowers.
Just as green plants add life and color to your indoor rooms, they will do the same for your outdoor rooms. What is your “outdoor room?” I’m talking about your deck or patio! Pots of colorful flowers just make a space look more homey and lived in.
If you are anything like me, your pots from last summer look like this:
Or maybe like this!
But in no time at all, you can have them cleaned up and looking all spiffy. So let’s get to planting those pots for your deck!
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FIRST:
Remove last years dead plants. You may be able to just pull them out, or if they have a good set of roots, you may have to dig them out. I used my little fork/trowel combo to get them out.
SECOND:
Remove any old dirt that doesn’t seem fresh. Take out any clumps of roots that may be left, and any hard clumps of potting soil. I do not generally empty the pot of potting soil. I reuse a good bit of it, but any that just doesn’t feel fresh I take out and will add it to my compost pile.
THIRD:
Dig a hole big enough to hold your new plant and place the new plant in the hole filling in around it with brand new potting soil.
REPEAT!
That looks so good, you will probably decide to do a few more!
Consider adding solar lights to some of your pots for night time ambiance and safety. I have this pot sitting beside the stairs and at the edge of the deck and the light helps with finding that first step and keeps people from accidentally stepping off the edge of the deck and falling.
And that’s all there is to adding beautiful living color to your deck! Is it warm enough to plant flowers where you are?
If you are interested in plants for pots, you might want to read Plants for Pots that Keep on Giving.
I’ll be working on my deck this week-end. Also hitting a few yard sales. Hoping to find a few planters to use. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hi Rhonda! I’ve got to sweep my deck this weekend and actually I need to mop the pollen off of it… but I am sure that I won’t. LOL And then I’m going to put down new rugs that I bought. I’m excited about that. Thanks for stopping by! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂
Girl, what lovely photography!! And a helpful post. I need to remember to remove the yucky ole dry soil and replace with fresh potting soil when I replant. Thank you for the tips. My plants thank you, too!!
Hi Leslie! Thanks so much. I’ve been wanting to get better photography for my blog, but its not an easy task! So happy to chat with you. 🙂
I love your basic lessons. I’m trying to learn more to keep up with Solomon’s planting interests. 🙂
Thanks Lisa. I do hope they are helpful to someone. Did you tell Solomon that he has inspired my garden? If he gets chance to watch, I mentioned him in my garden video. He might want to watch. 🙂
Still frosty in my area. But it is coming slowly but surely. Looking forward to getting to plant soon.
Brrrrrr Audrey! I do like living in the South. Well, until July and August then I need relief! haha Maybe you will get to plant soon! 🙂
Quick and easy tips! Thanks Nikki!
The best kind, right? quick and easy! Thanks Julie! 🙂
I laughed when I saw your pots with last year’s debris in them!! Looks just like mine!!! I need to get on this asap. It always feels good to get things cleaned up so you can enjoy the outdoors!
haha I figured I wasn’t the only one Nancy. Thanks for dropping by. 🙂
So glad spring is finally here and we can start planting flowers again! Here in northern MN we’re still waiting for it to be “safe” to do so lol, I just can’t wait! Thanks for sharing with us at the To Grandma’s house we go link party!
I love going to Grandma’s house! 😉
Your footed pots are gorgeous! I really like the idea of a solar light in them, so simple and so much more attractive than just stuck in the ground. Thanks for sharing this with us at the Homestead Blog Hop, come back and see us again! 🙂
Thanks Ann! I got those pots at Home Depot years ago and I still love them. I love solar lights for the deck so you can move about safely at night without having a glaring light in your eyes. And you can still see the stars! 🙂
You’ve created a really lovely deck! Thanks for sharing with Party in Your PJs!
Thanks Lynda. I am really enjoying this deck. 🙂
Dear Nikki, thank you so much for sharing your post at my latest link party. I love the idea of adding solar lights to the flower pots on my deck. Thank you for this great idea.
Hope to welcome you back soon,
warm regards,
Dagmar
http://www.dagmarbleasdale.com
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Thanks so much Marilyn! Exciting news. 🙂
Hey Nikki,
I do a lot of pot gardening too. There is one pot, I need to know what this is. I have a pot of it but I don’t know what it is. it’s that little leaf green ground cover I think it is so pretty and it comes back for a couple of years too. I also put the solar lights in my flower pots. Great minds!!! 🙂 I loved this article.
Are you talking about the light green, chartreuse?, color one? That’s Creeping Jenny. Thanks for stopping by Clearissa!
I don’t have a deck, so I can’t do this, but I wanted to tell you that those flower beds are beautiful!
Hi Sandra. Thanks so much. I am impressed that you visited even though you don’t have a deck. 🙂
All of your flowers are so pretty. I have put some out on the front porch this year now to maintain them will be the trick. lol
Oh boy Victoria! I am excited for you. Plants are a crap shoot… sometimes they live, sometimes they don’t. LOL
Great quick tutorial! My pots do look like that but looked like that way before winter! Seriously, I waste money buying plants – I don’t have a green thumb! Shared your post x 4 ♥
Maybe one day you will stumble across the perfect plant that thrives under your care! Fingers crossed. 🙂
Great post! Learning to plant in containers and I love it!
Sometimes it just a matter of finding the plant that will thrive in the conditions where your pot sits. Mine are in FULL sun and it takes a tough plant to survive this Alabama heat. Thanks for stopping by Sylvia! 🙂
gorgeous!
Thanks Amy! 🙂
Nikki that idea with the solar lights is brilliant. I can just imagine how pretty the deck will be with them lit at night.
Mary, I adore solar lights! And the cheap ones from the Dollar Tree are great! 🙂