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Low maintenance container gardening

gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
in Plants
Hi everyone, I’m looking for ideas for low maintenance containers for my mother’s garden. She’s not fussy about a particular colour that I know, but doesn’t like lavenders or roses. Any ideas guys? Many thanks.

Posts

  • AuntyRachAuntyRach Posts: 5,291
    There is plenty to choose from! Consider where the pots will be (eg full sun) and the size of the pots, foremost. Pots will need some care - mainly extra watering. 
    Ask her whether she is after some greenery or some colour.  Annuals will be easy to find in GCs soon - perhaps she could look at some pictures online to see what she fancies. I would suggest some Pelargoniums (just need sun, watering and a glug of plant food every now and then) but they will be for just this year really. For something larger and longer-term, with some foliage over Winter - maybe a Pieris or Red Robin or Skimmia. 




    My garden and I live in South Wales. 
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    It depends on what you call low. Containers will need daily watering in summer and if you use tender perennials, may need to be moved under cover and out again, seasonally.
  • gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
    She won’t mind doing the watering, though not sure how she feels about pruning. She likes symmetry but doesn’t have to be shaped buxus etc. Basically it just needs to be colourful, I’ve asked if she would like winter interest/evergreen but I’ve just been asked to draw a plan 🤷‍♂️ 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    What size is the area, where does it face, N.S.E.W?, get a few BIG pots, I have a lot of small ones, in summer watering is several times a day, With the big pots you can have a shrub, say, with annuals all around, and change them according to the season
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    I bought my Mum a pittosporum tenuifolium (not sure which variety) and planted it in a large pot where it grew happily for her outside her back door.  It is a nice soft green evergreen.  Hers, and the one I bought for myself for a pot at mine lived very happily in their pots for a few years.  When Mum died I brought her pittosporum home and planted hers and mine in the garden.  I now have two very nice trees which are so obliging, since I continually remove the lower branches.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
    @Nanny Beach sorry I’ve only just seen this, apologies. Well to be honest it’s easy facing but most of the garden gets sun most of the day (I think) as there’s nothing tall to block the sun out. I’d definitely opt for larger pots, less watering, better plant choices :smile:
  • gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
    @didyw sorry just seen this. Sounds like a good choice for a container. It’s nice to hear that you still nurture your mother’s plant, it’s as if she’s in the garden with you 🙂
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