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big plants or little
I'm thinking of buying a large plant (philadelphus) in a 12ltr pot instead of my usual 3ltr pot, for impact. Obviously buying large is going to be very much more expensive than buying the smaller version. But can anyone tell me if paying the extra money is worthwhile and they do actually create more of an impact than the smaller version.
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They create more of an instant impact in garden and on bank account but take a lot more effort to get established, lots of watering and staking, and in many cases are overtaken in the long term by smaller plants.
I have never bought big, lack the bank account for that, but have nursed the results in other gardens
In the sticks near Peterborough
I'd agree with nut, Peter. By the end of this summer a healthy philadelphus from a 3l pot planted in a well prepared spot , fed and watered, will put on considerable growth, and by next summer it will be the size of the one in the 12l pot.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
i'm with nut. i usually buy the smallest i can find to have the satisfaction of growing them on. something with the growth rate of philadelphus will come along fast from a smaller size.
I've always bought shrubs as a small plant, they have time to get their roots down and then grow to fill in the space. My little Choisya (18") is now taller than me 5'3" and covered in flowers and the perfume is marvellous.
Agree with everyone above regarding smaller plants catching up; however because my garden was nothing when I started, (literally 4acres of grass/nettles and valerian) it was/is a massive space to fill, and I have the occasional tendancy to be an impatient
I can understand the appeal of the "instant" bit, but be prepared to put the care in.
These days I try to compromise, the odd specimen, but mainly the smaller guys, in the long run they will exceed their counterparts And you can have far more of them for the same £££!!!!
My front garden was like that Claire, just grass and nothing else. I used small plants, knowing that they would grow and that I could propagate or grow from seed if I needed. Now it looks like its always been there and was worth the wait.