Back Deck Garden Tour for August! My Urban Oasis In The Middle Of The City 🌸

Here is what my back deck garden looks like in early August!
West Rooftop Garden Tour: • August Container Garde...
All 2024 Garden Tours: • February Container Gar...
Hydrangea video: • Growing Hydrangeas In ...
~ Where Things Are From ~
** Any Amazon links are affiliate links and I earn a small commission when you click on these links to purchase products. All products, except for the Aquapots, were purchased with my own money.
Zero G flexible hose: urlgeni.us/amz...
Gronomics elevated beds (front deck): gronomics.com/...
Charming Bench Company elevated beds (back deck): thecharmingben...
30-gallon grow bags: amzn.to/3C4tvZU
7-gallon black grow bags: parkseed.com/s...
5 and 7 gallon beige grow bags: amzn.to/3qgiWjR
Herb rack: www.gardeners....
Two tiered plant stands: amzn.to/3Vk1WXx
Flower cart: amzn.to/43unbGU
White vertical planter with buckets: amzn.to/3UVp1j6
Aquapot Lite: www.provenwinn...
Wheels for 30-gallon grow bags: amzn.to/3qfRxib
Caddy for smaller plants: amzn.to/3WIhjra
ProvenWinners drip irrigation: www.provenwinn...
Carpathen drip irrigation: amzn.to/3OLiCUk
Table and chairs: old from Wayfair
Couch and coffee table: Hampton Bay collection from Home Depot
For daily plant updates, follow me on Instagram @chicagogardener

[@schoolbeginsaftercoffee4759]

I am living vicariously through you! My garden is in the trenches fighting for its life. Earwigs, spider mites, you name it, I got it! 😅😅
Edited to add: Your asters are beautiful. Adding them to my garden in 2025.

[@ChicagoGardener]

They’ve been one of my favorite flowers this year! I’m adding more varieties to try out next year too 😂

[@aspiringviolinist5732]

Gorgeous! Bethany it looks sooo good!! The bucket planter is stunning!! Great job!!

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you so much!!!

[@alice_rabbit8345]

Looks beautiful! I remember when there were no plants on that deck!

[@ChicagoGardener]

I can’t believe I let it be plantless for a few years 😂

[@pamm701]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you!!

[@Mheldz09]

Love it!! Thank you!!

[@frankporterfield8121]

You're the best. Great job.

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you!

[@thalia_metaxa5542]

Gorgeous colors! I am jealous of the quality plants you have access to. I have also a quite big balcony with about 100 containers and I struggle with most of my plants....

[@ChicagoGardener]

Do you mostly start from seed or get plants from the store?

[@thalia_metaxa5542]

@@ChicagoGardener store mostly, but I've also tried seeds. I have ordered from my country and other countries in Europe as well but no luck... Unfortunately, I can't order from the USA 😞

[@olwinwalker1432]

Plant choices are always critical. And lots of trial and error. Bought plants have greater success for me. Cuttings from petunias are also successful.

[@DaveCollierCamping]

Outstanding

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you!!

[@newt52864]

Love your deck 🤩🤩🤩

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you!!

[@capecodcottagegarden]

I grew Cupcakes Blush for the first time this year. It is my favorite well...its one of my favorites LOL, but I planted it in my Buddha bed which unfortunately gets wind and a couple had the stems broken at the base so I had to pull them. But I will grow them next year for sure. Your garden is stunning, your plant choice and placement Love all of it!!!

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you so much!!

[@suzyparr632]

I love it .Had my morning coffee while watching your video. Thanks for sharing.

[@ChicagoGardener]

I love that! This is actually the garden where I have my morning coffee!!

[@NormaMiller-fe8rl]

My peony sometimes gets "burnt" looking spots on the leaves too and seem to do less so when I water it more and not just depend on rain. However, it has never seemed to affect the plant itself, which keeps growing and bloomed the first year even after moving it last fall. 😊
I'll be so interested to see how you overwinter the hydrangeas and the illuminati (I've been considering a mock orange for the scent!).
"Dark" plants: You may want to check out dark sedum (purplish black) for the dark foliage since they need almost no water and no fertilizer... perfect for containers! I also really like the Spilled Wine Weigela... pretty dark foliage all year long and small enough for a container.

[@ChicagoGardener]

This is all so helpful, thank you!! For my hydrangeas, I put them in the garage and water maybe once a month so they don’t dry out. I’ll definitely film the process!

[@halleygardner8454]

Thank you for sharing! Just bought a home in the city with a little front and back yard and I’m watching for inspiration! Are there any more garden walks planned that you know of?

[@ChicagoGardener]

All the ones I know of were over by the end of July. Which neighborhood did you move to?

[@4nikkimay]

Love it 😍

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you!

[@michellefrance1165]

Well, I agree with you both decks are looking beautiful and hard to choose which one I love more! Have a great weekend 😊

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you! Have a great weekend too!!

[@MOUSEMOM40]

Amazing!

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you!!

[@Amyfromaustin]

I ❤your back deck. It’s the bucket planter wall for me! Cute jumpsuit btw!

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you!! The bucket planter has been my favorite addition to the garden this year!

[@ilonaS1979]

A wonderful collection of flowers on the terrace 😍🤩

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you so much 😊

[@yesidtac7863]

Excelente dia🎉

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you!!

[@estreetangel]

Both your deck gardens are breath-taking! I'm in the same grow zone as you but in MA so I've learned a lot from you as when to start seeds, which varieties of things grow well in our shared zone, etc.
I am so interested in the dwarf hydrangeas. I saved your video on them for future reference and once you show us how to over-winter them, I can then decide if I should grow any.

[@ChicagoGardener]

My plan will be to put most in the garage, but I might test some other options just in case people don’t have a place to store them like that. I’ll definitely share it all here!

[@doramaldonado4460]

Your China Asters give me flower envy!!! Beautiful as always 🌸

[@ChicagoGardener]

I’m growing all of these and adding even more for next year 😆

[@marleneegan-hm7lr]

Your garden is so beautiful! I tried dahlias in the ground but they rotted in my clay. How big of a pot should I get and does it depend on how big the plant gets? I’d love to plant café au lair which get quite big. I won’t be using grow bags because I’m in Houston and they’d dry out too fast.

[@lynnettebergman4732]

Absolutely beautiful! Love the flower cart. Great idea. You probably mentioned it but how much sun does you back deck get?

[@ChicagoGardener]

Full sun as well but since it’s east facing it’s a little less intense than the afternoon full sun on the other deck.

[@patcz]

Do you overwinter Hydrangeas in your garage? and also is your garage heated? could you consider doing a short video on overwintering? Thanks, your decks are magazine worthy!

[@ChicagoGardener]

Garage is heated to 40 degrees over winter but I think my hydrangeas could survive in an unheated garage too! I’ll make videos for each type of plant and how I overwinter them!

[@lxrydva5927]

Both decks are beautiful ❤what do you do with the sweet potato vines in the winter?

[@ChicagoGardener]

I grow them as annuals so they get pulled and composted!

[@user-ix5qd1bp4q]

Do you have 5 Seasons or 7 ?

[@godisalllove8602]

Did you plant your Gomphrena from seed?

[@ChicagoGardener]

I did! I got most of the seeds from Johnnys seed.