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Year round plants for planters

jblakes8423429jblakes8423429 Posts: 12
in Plants
Good evening, 

I'm new to gardening but I've built 4x planters to go in a courtyard we have outside, these are 1x0.5x0.5m (rectangle shape). They will be south facing.

I am looking for something that is green all year, and then flowers at certain times throughout the year, I'm guessing a mix shrubs make sense? Can somebody suggest a few low maintance plants that I can pretty much plant and leave. Obviously I will water and I don't mind abit of pruning. But want some simple plants that add colour in all seasons.

Kind regards
JB

Posts

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Ivory Halo Dogwood is lovely.. not evergreen and does not flower..but it does have beautiful winter stems and lovely variegated leaves.  Maybe underplanted with ivy?  
    Utah, USA.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Japanese azaleas will cope with sun, and are slow growing. They need neutral to acidic soil. Hebes will also do well. Both need very little attention, but there are hundreds of hebe varieties so just pick something that suits the space. Both have flowers. Some of the smaller grasses will also be fine. There are evergreen ones like Carexes and some of the Uncinias. Euphorbias will also do well. There are lots of varieties of those too, so choose carefully - some are bigger, and some aren't evergreen. Some edging plants could be useful too - Arabis and Aubrieta are good, as they'll soften, and trail over, edges as well. 
    You can add spring bulbs in your containers too, and if you add a few perennials like hardy geraniums, they will always work well together. That will give you a fairly long season of interest, especially if you add a few later flowering perennials too - Asters are good for that. 
    If you can also give us an idea of roughly where you're located, and the general climate, that will help with suggestions. All sorts of plants that cope in a southern location with lots of sun and high temperatures, wouldn't survive up here, so that's quite important. 

    f the containers are timber, they're best lined to prevent moisture loss too.  Make sure you fill them with a soil based medium too - not compost, as that will just disappear very quickly.  :)


    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Those are good size containers. Personally I would focus on a single specimen shrub (per container) with a nice structure for impact and a smart look all year round. For example Osmanthus, which can be trimmed to a ball/dome, or a small multi-stemmed 'tree' shape, or do Japanese style 'cloud pruning' - and has scented white flowers.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited September 2023
    As long as you don't experience harsh winters where you are, many plants will suit containers of that size.  It really depends on the look you are trying to create and how much time you have to look after the plants.  I'm inclined to go down the same route as @Loxley, using a choice evergreen as multi-planted containers can look dishevelled as the various plants compete for space, with different growth rates and flowering times.  As well as Osmanthus, you could consider Bay laurel, Euonymus Green Spire or even privet, all easy to shape into cones, cubes or whatever you like.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • jblakes8423429jblakes8423429 Posts: 12
    I'm in the UK in the countryside in Derbyshire, so yes we tend to get snow and have slighty subzero temps in winter. Although tbh it's never that cold. 

    I dont mind spending time (not much much) tending to them. The space will have four planters and a table /chairs where we sit in the sun/have tea etc. I am wanting something that basically doesn't look dead in winter/summer. If it adds flowers at points in year even better.

    I looked at heather, but been told it eventually dies and need replanting?


  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    If you use plenty of grit in your compost/soil mix, lavender’s another option.  The English varieties like Hidcote or Munstead are more tolerant of our cold, wet winters. If you prune them in late August, removing the spent flowers and stalks, they will produce fresh leaves which keeps them looking good over winter.  Many people neglect to do this and are rewarded with bare stalks and sad looking plants!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


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