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Plant Suggestions for Large Planters - We have Ivys' Grasses & Lavenders - Interested in Ideas

Evening all, been a while. 

Been developing the front of our rather flat boring frontage the last 2-3 years .... (previously all pavers and engineering brick walls), with some success thanks to support from GQ forum.

We added large Hanoi Ironstone pots and now have had some heavy duty galvanised cattle feeders cut and welded to size for the wall opening ..... Note... will post photos of this tomorrow. They a little industrial but the colour will work with trailing plants we think

We will extend the purple/white/green theme (ivys, grasses, lavenders) but very keen to add some more interesting but robust, relatively easy to maintain plants. And indeed we can expand the narrow colour theme. But honestly speaking I've run our of creativity at this point and need some interesting ideas.

Just to note, we have installed a full irrigation facility out front and rear and will expand this to the planters (all 4 of them) .... frontage gets full sun all day long, things grow perfectly out there. After protecting and lining the planters, we will put a gravel in the base and then buy a decent high grade soil to fill them with. The one planter faces a fairly busy road, the other 3 form the wall between the two gardens. Keen were we can to add things that attract wildlife .... the plants out there definitely achieve that so far.

The planters are approximately 350mmm deep and wide and approximately 2.2 meters long.

Appreciate any ideas to improve the plant mix. As I say, I will add some photos to show the context better tomorrow morning. Many thanks

Posts

  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    I'd be adding bulbs lots to go with white daffodils icewings is very nice - purple / white Hyacinths - white anemones they loads of bulbs to look into . 

    They a bit small for a lot of shrubs but something with a white variegation like euonymus fortunei or japonica species some of these have white new leaves . maybe Ilex little rascal quite a smallish plant nice foliage turns a shade of purple in winter and with new growth . Have a look through pittosporum nice shrubs with interesting foliage like tom thumb they all can be trimmed to shape .

    I'll wait until pictures before any more recommendations not sure how much room is left in the containers with existing plants  . 
  • We have planters on this colour theme at work, they have ivy, lavender, heuchera and white echinacea.
  • Perki said:
    I'd be adding bulbs lots to go with white daffodils icewings is very nice - purple / white Hyacinths - white anemones they loads of bulbs to look into . 

    They a bit small for a lot of shrubs but something with a white variegation like euonymus fortunei or japonica species some of these have white new leaves . maybe Ilex little rascal quite a smallish plant nice foliage turns a shade of purple in winter and with new growth . Have a look through pittosporum nice shrubs with interesting foliage like tom thumb they all can be trimmed to shape .

    I'll wait until pictures before any more recommendations not sure how much room is left in the containers with existing plants  . 

    Many thanks for the ideas. I have to confess I need to look up most of those to see what they look like : But I certainly will be doing that today.

    Here are photos of the units position fitted. I fixed one in today then it hammered down. Just waiting for it to dry a little then back out there

    I put ones of the pots as well. They have gone over now of course but maybe it gives a flavour of the look we have installed so far. 


  • We have planters on this colour theme at work, they have ivy, lavender, heuchera and white echinacea.
    Thanks for the ideas. Again I need to look up the names but this is half the fun of it. Keen to move quick now to get them in the next week or so.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Personally I would just go with Lavender - just one thing. Plenty of grit in the soil mix. And yes they will get a bit straggly and need replacing eventually, but very easy to raise new cuttings.

    Santolina, or prostrate Rosemary would be other options, if you wanted a deciduous plant to combine with spring bulbs, Sedum 'Autumn Joy' would work
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    I agree with Loxley I probably keep to Mediterranean type of plants for the troughs , I can see them getting prity hot in summer. Can add a few other which you may be interested in for the troughs - Artemesia nana - Pervoskia little spire - Euphoriba black pearl / others - Agapanthus - nepeta quite a few nice variety's . I wouldn't go crazy with loads of different plant , I'd repeat more a less the same plants through every trough . probably 5 to 7 type of plants , or just use some solid / structure plants like lavender / grasses and leave a few gaps for added colour in summer with trailing petunia / others 

    I like Phormiums for big pots like jester - maori queen and many more . Have you thought of a nice little tree for them like acers - cornus kousa - crab apples etc .    


  • Loxley said:
    Personally I would just go with Lavender - just one thing. Plenty of grit in the soil mix. And yes they will get a bit straggly and need replacing eventually, but very easy to raise new cuttings.

    Santolina, or prostrate Rosemary would be other options, if you wanted a deciduous plant to combine with spring bulbs, Sedum 'Autumn Joy' would work

    Hi there and many thanks for the suggestions. Indeed I am going to go heavy with the lavender. Ordered these. Quantities are probably too much but they had some fairly good reductions. Then I added the ones listed below from another supplier.

    I'm still reading through the other suggestions kindly provided and will definitely be adding one or two of those as well. Many thanks again

    Product

    SKU: hidcote1Lx32
    Angustifolia Hidcote - 1 Litre Pot - Bulk Deal
    Amount of plants: 32

    1

    SKU: LW027824
    Intermedia Edelweiss - 9cm pot
    Amount of plants: 24

    1
    Festuca glauca Elijah Blue - Fescue - Pack of THREEG105711
    Allium senescens Millenium - Amazing Summer Flowering AlliumP901144
    Hedera helix Glacier - Variegated Common IvyC159464
    Hedera hibernica - Irish or Boston Ivy - (150-180cm/5-6ft tall) Screening PlantsC153072
    Stipa tenuissima Ponytails - Pack of THREE Mexican Feather Grass PlantsG159321
  • Perki said:
    I agree with Loxley I probably keep to Mediterranean type of plants for the troughs , I can see them getting prity hot in summer. Can add a few other which you may be interested in for the troughs - Artemesia nana - Pervoskia little spire - Euphoriba black pearl / others - Agapanthus - nepeta quite a few nice variety's . I wouldn't go crazy with loads of different plant , I'd repeat more a less the same plants through every trough . probably 5 to 7 type of plants , or just use some solid / structure plants like lavender / grasses and leave a few gaps for added colour in summer with trailing petunia / others 

    I like Phormiums for big pots like jester - maori queen and many more . Have you thought of a nice little tree for them like acers - cornus kousa - crab apples etc .    


    Totally agree. Will be reading through those suggestions kindly made. The ones I have ordered I listed above. They are here Monday I think it is.

    Strangely the original idea was indeed to install a large developed Acer and lift some of the pavers. But the cost for a developed one was huge and a lot of work. I think from memory something like £1500 .... but it was huge and immaculate in form. 

    The planters themselves are only maybe 150 mm deep and wide so it's only small stuff in those. But for sure the idea of a larger tree still keeps rattling around.

    many thanks for the suggestions.
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