Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Mr. Big gets a new home…

Last winter I promised my oldest and largest (although it’s in danger of losing that part of its title unless it puts on some serious growth this summer) agave, Mr. Big, a new home come warmer weather. Exactly what that home would be was in question until I determined what his root system was like. He’s been in the same tall metal container since 2007, it was starting to rust out in places so I thought getting him out would be an easy matter. I was wrong. Out came the angry tools, a metal handled flat edge screw driver and a mini sledge hammer. This project became serious.

About 10 minutes into the job I heard a voice, the voice sounded a lot like Heather (the most safety conscious and prepared person I know) “I see you’re being very careful to avoid those agave spikes…”

“…but have you even considered the rusty metal edges you could cut yourself on? And when exactly was your last tetanus shot?” Yikes! All of a sudden I felt like I was earning my blog name on this project alone...

So let’s just thank Heather and say I was very careful. No blood was drawn and Mr Big (Agave americana 'Variegata') broke free.

There were a few thick pup producing growths (see the fourth photo above) but all in all his roots were pretty minimal. I potted him up in a big black plastic nursery pot and placed him inside a tall green container I scored from my friend Bridget.

I’d planned to leave this container empty, you know, because empty containers make a statement. Evidently not in my garden. Empty just wasn’t possible.

He didn't get planted directly in the container because I very much want to keep Mr. Big alive over the coming winters and the pot with in the pot will allow us to easily (relatively speaking) remove him and keep him under cover when the weather turns. Now I had to come up with a way to hide the rim of the black plastic pot…I won't be able to put up with seeing that for very long.

Andrew suggested burlap. I liked the naturalness of it, and the color goes well with the fence. Plus I have several weathered (mildewed) pieces from attempts at winter protection. I can’t say I love it, but it’s better than the black plastic and I've sense added a bit of Tillandsia usneoides too, which is odd but fun. Do you have any ideas?

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

37 comments:

  1. I think you should collect the spiky seed pods from Horse Chestnut trees and spread them around the base...how cool would that be!

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    1. Oh that is a fabulous idea!!! Gonna have to wait a while though, til the chestnut season is upon us.

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  2. Hah! I knew you wouldn't be able to keep that container empty for long.

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  3. AnonymousMay 27, 2014

    It looks like you have put bricks or something under the black pot to raise it to the level of the green pot's rim. If my guess is correct, you could lower the level of the black pot a bit and then place larger stones around the perimeter to conceal the black pot rim. The stones would have to be big enough not to fall into the gap between the black green pots. Some flat shaped, black or dark grey Mexican pavers might be nice.

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    1. You're right, although actually the base to an unused bird bath is what's underneath. I originally had the black rim just a little lower but the agave looked wrong, like it was in quick sand and sinking. So I raised it up a bit with a tray on top of the bird bath base. Still you're idea has me thinking and I do have some nice, larger, blue/grey Mexican beach pebbles, I bet they could bridge the gap okay as-is. I'll try it!

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  4. Here's another option: Create a ring out of sturdy wire mesh, wide enough to cover a good portion of the agave pot but extend out to the edge of the ceramic one. (Maybe put an upturned edge on it for extra support?) You could probably make it two "C" shapes for ease of installation. Then cover with weed fabric or screen and cover with a layer of the small mulch rocks that the pot already contains. Now the whole pot looks like it's mulched! (Hope I described that clearly enough.)

    I didn't say it was a simple solution...

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    1. I think I understood, and had kind of been thinking along those lines but just decided it sounded like too much work!

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  5. Can't think of anything that hasn't already been mentioned. Nurseries use moss a lot for this purpose because it can simply sit atop the pot and extend to the inner rim of the decorative pot. However, I don't think that would look quite right for an agave. Mr. Big looks very handsome in his new pot!

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    1. I do love me some moss, and my garden is all about contradictions...

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  6. I would never have thought of burlap. I think it looks good. Knowing you, though, you won't rest until you've found the perfect solution :-).

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    1. Ya, seems like you do know me. I almost don't see the burlap now, which is nice. But there are so many possibilities!

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  7. Wow! When a problem has you stumped, just throw it out there and look at all the great ideas that come rolling in. Long live the power of the blog!

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    1. Indeed, it's pretty wonderful to read everyone's ideas!

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  8. Mr. Big looks great in the big boy green pot! I'd be tempted to add a covering that highlights his handsome stripes, maybe a sedum or yellow/green marbles if you could find a way to contain them.

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    1. Uhm...sedum would be easy AND in keeping with the succulent theme...

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  9. Beautiful!!! I don't mind the burlap, but if you're feeling crafty, why don't you make a moss form out of some wire and plant it full of echeveria!? that would be freaking sweet!

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    1. Never would have thought of that but you're right, freaking sweet!

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  10. Good job Loree!

    My Big likes right at home in the new big pot. The green matches the green and yellow of Mr Big really well.

    To disguise the black top of the plastic pot could you put something like deck tape on it? Try and find one that is similar in colour to the small stones. Failing that glue some sandpaper around the top and put a matt varnish on it?

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    1. Deck tape, there's something I've never heard of before, looks like it's for skateboards? (I am tragically not cool). Now you've got my mind working over time!

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  11. I was about to say using a mesh and large pebbles but variations of that have been mentioned already. Not an easy task getting that agave out!

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    1. No it wasn't, hard to believe it had been in there for so many years! (7)

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  12. Aluminum foil? Just kidding, sort of. It was earlier this year when I stabbed myself with an Agave that I went to the doc and got a tetanus shot. It stings like a bastard.

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    1. The shot or the agave wound? (stings)

      I do use aluminum foil a lot, it's one of my favorite ways to arrange floppy flowers in a vase. And you've picked up on my love of silver metal objects!

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  13. One thing you can do is to grow a plant that cascades over the sides. Stick little pieces of Creeping Jenny on the edge of the agave pot and let them drape over the sides of the ceramic pot. In short order the black pot will be concealed beneath Jenny's foliage. Did that make sense?

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    1. It did Grace, and I've got a lot of creeping Jenny (she multiplies like no bodies business!)

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  14. Did I walk in on the aftermath of this? Oh, I missed the excitement. I was thinking along the same lines as some of the other commenters, using larger stones that won't fall through the gap between the two pots. My version involves flat, slate-type pieces though. I like the idea of the dark stone contrasting with the bluish-green and cream of the agave and it makes me think of an agave growing out of naturally-fractured rock. You could look for some Mexican-style tiles at a second-hand store and break them into large pieces to add a few bits of color, but I like the simplicity of the stone. I live near an old rock quarry with plenty of flat bits of rock in various greys, tans, and reddish browns, and mixes. I could pick out a few pieces for you to try. It would be free so nothing lost if you don't like it.

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    1. Yes you did, just think you could have helped me separate agave and rusty metal! Thank you for the offer, and I am intrigued. If you are there and thing of it I'd love to try your idea out.

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    2. I'll take a walk this week and pick up some rocks for you!

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  15. How about filling the rest of the green pot with soil, and plant some perennial sedum in the ring around the center pot (like someone else already mentioned above), and then get another black center pot the same size as the one Mr big is in, but plant something like a dwarf conifer in it or some type of hardy shrub, so that when its time to bring in Mr big, you can just replace the hole in the center with the other plant for winter? That way you have an interchangeable centerpiece!

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    1. I like the way you think with that interchangeable idea!

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  16. I have no new ideas to add, but I am curious about which agave is about to beat Mr. Big for the title of your biggest agave!

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    1. Ah good question Renee! Actually an Agave franzosinii I picked up at the Ruth Bancroft garden is getting up there in size, and my oldest, and A. desmettiana is also gaining on Mr. Big.

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  17. I can´t think of anything different from what has been said already. I really like how that green pot matches with Mr. Big.. I bet you´ll find a creative solution.

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  18. AnonymousMay 28, 2014

    Never been able to keep a pot empty

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  19. How about adding some big about the size of the inside of your palm over the edge of the pot to cover the black pot inside. You can get them in small bags all shiny and stuff from Walmart. Really cheap but it would look good plus water would go through and not sit on the burlap and maybe invite mold and bacteria. I have a Mr. Big still in the pot from the nursery also. I will add it in a pot when I do my rock garden in the front yard. It will add interest.

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