Forum home› Talkback
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Votes please, and a quick questions...

TootlesTootles Posts: 1,469
in Talkback

hello, have been wanting to plant up two 15" square containers outside some French doors for a while. Couldn't decide what to go for so ended up purchasing two options. Which do you think would go better and do well in the pots... a variegated holly or a pine... Sadly the labels had come off both so I don't know what types they are! 

Here's a photo of each next to one of the pots.

image

 Does anyone know if the pine needs acid compost? I think the holly will be ok in normal compost. I've got two bags of each!!

thanks!

«13

Posts

  • DaintinessDaintiness Posts: 988

    I quite like the holly - which you could shape...but it really is down to you.

    I would however line the pots (which look like clay) with an empty compost bag in order to conserve moisture or the plants will dry out very fast as they won't thrive and you will be forever watering them. I would also use John Innes potting compost 3 as these will be in the pots for quite a while and need some bulk.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,139

    For me it has to be the holly - but you'll need to clip it and start making it a formal shape, then it will look fabulous.   

    My reasoning is:

    I know that holly can be clipped and kept to a size that will suit that pot.

    If we don't know what type the pine is, it might not be happy being kept closely confined.  

    That's my thought anyway image

     

     Oh, and yes, JI No 3 loam based compost image

     

     

     


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • NorthernLass2NorthernLass2 Posts: 407

    Holly

  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527

    Holly gets my vote 

  • Fishy65Fishy65 Posts: 2,276

    Pine image

     

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,028

    Holly, for all the reasons above.

    Some pines are very big, they grow well on the poor alkali soil here, but turn into big trees. But yours looks more like the smaller furry leaved sort. Wouldn't risk it and holly is prunable and would look nice anyway.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • LesleyKLesleyK Posts: 4,029

    Holly for me tooimage.  Sorry Fishyimage.  However it's up to Tootles and she may feel sorry for youimage

  • TootlesTootles Posts: 1,469

    thanks for the votes lovely forum members!

    ...And the winner is......drum role please.........

    Holly!

    image

     

    image

     Sorry Fishy!

    now, what to do with a couple of pine trees...?!

  • Lupin 1Lupin 1 Posts: 8,916

    Holly for me and two more pots needed LOL image

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,139

    They look great Tootles image

    As for the pines - have you got a north-facing corner over by the boundary fence I can see in the reflection?


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





Sign In or Register to comment.