Getting Pots Ready for Annuals

After a very brief burst of 80 degrees, it has gotten cold again (actually closer to long term average). We had a frost warning 2 days ago and actual frost about 8 days ago. I have been impatiently biding my time before I buy annuals. I’ve gotten 2.5 yards of mulch spread around the yard (a bit late because some little things already popped up and are now covered). Also started sifting and refreshing my flower pots. I save the pots (and the potting mix) from year to year. If possible, I pull the old flower stalks/roots out in November before I put the pots in the garage to rest. In spring sometime, I dump each pot into a big tub I have and then I sift and hack and chop up the mess to pull out as many roots, root balls, and slimy tubers/whatnots as I can. What is left gets juiced up with some slow release fertilizer, some water-saving crystals, and perhaps some peat and then put back into my flower pots. At the end, I usually have to add some new potting mix. Here are a few that are finished, and waiting for annuals. I have my 3 largest flower pots to finish (but, of course, those have the worst root balls since they all held red fountain grass).

The trays are from my garage, and most of those plants made it. Also, the one as yet unidentified thing in the hanging basket (yeah, I shoulda kept the tag!)

And, here is a new outdoor plant stand that I picked up from the curb while out for a walk a few weeks ago!