Silk vs. Real, Which Do You Plant?

[Chattyaholic]

In the past years I've always planted real flowers (geraniums, marigolds, petunias, etc.) in my whiskey barrels and other plant boxes on the deck and porch. But THIS year I decided to plant silk ones!! Hobby Lobby had their silk flowers/plants on sale for HALF PRICE last week so I loaded up on 'em!! $116 which still kind of seems like a lot...but...I got the whiskey barrels "planted" yesterday and they do look REAL and the best part? NO WATERING ALL SUMMER!!! That is always the worst thing, because we like to get away several times during the summer to go camping and I either have to over-water before we go and then come home to wilted flowers, OR ask someone to come over and water them and I always hate to put anyone out so I think I'm REALLY going to like these silk ones!! And they'll last 2-3 years probably, maybe more! Anyone else put in silk flowers instead of real ones?

 

[Southern4sure]

I have never used silk flowers for planting but I have seen it in yards and some look nice and others look tacky. The only problem I have is they would fade quickly here in the sunshine state...

 

[DaisyD]

I do not like fake flowers "planted" outside. I think they are tacky. Sorry.

 

[4cruisin]

We have a huge house with window boxes on the front. Every year we have spent a fortune buying and planting "real" flowers and they always look great. It takes a ton of work watering and caring for all the flowers we plant both in the window boxes and in pots around the porch and yard. This year, we plan on going away every weekend and for several weeks during the summer. I knew that we would not have the time to care for the live flowers so I spent about the same $$ on silk flowers and unless you are standing right beside them, you cannot tell that they are fake. The neighbors have already complimented us on how lovely the house looks and dh and I just smile and say "thank you".

There is a difference in silks and the better quality ones are nothing like the old plastic flowers. I think the silk was a good choice as opposed to leaving the window boxes bare. I would prefer the real live flowers but it just did not fit into our plans for the summer.

I know that Oprah hates fake flowers but I just don't have her $$ to hire a full time gardnener.

 

[Chattyaholic]

4cruisin: I see we are thinking the same way!

I just got them all "planted" and walked out by the driveways and if I didn't know they were silk, I would think they were real, they look great!!