Hi Am looking to add one or two large containers to our North facing drive. I thought of olive tree but it won't work on North facing drive. Other than bay trees, any suggestions? Any other advise on growing such large plants... Ta
Whereabouts are you Xyz? And are you after something evergreen or deciduous?
What size of container?
Bay trees won't like it either very much as they are mediterranean plants so need full sun and frost protection.
Prunus laurocerasus or lusitanica varieties might work, or hollies or Euonymus. You can get mop-headed standards of these.
But it partly depends on the above and also how shady your spot is. With too much shade you'll struggle to get a good-shaped specimen.
The essential thing is to use a soil-based compost--John Innes no 3 is the best--and to ensure good drainage to your container by putting a few inches of coarse gravel/potsherds in the bottom above the drainage holes (which need to be quite large and multiple) with the compost on top.
Thanks for suggestions and advice re drainage . I should have said. We are in London. I was thinking of putting outside the door which is North facing so in shadow of house doesn't get much direct sun other than on hot summer days. I can consider moving them to a more East facing spit outside the shadow of the house.
I haven't chosen the pots yet as it depends what size plant I get. My preference would be something evergreen as it gives some interest to a bare looking driveway.
I had two standard hollies at the front of my last house. We used large square lead 'style' (resin) containers for them. It was a Victorian sandstone house and they looked well there. They'll cope with pretty much anything
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Whereabouts are you Xyz? And are you after something evergreen or deciduous?
What size of container?
Bay trees won't like it either very much as they are mediterranean plants so need full sun and frost protection.
Prunus laurocerasus or lusitanica varieties might work, or hollies or Euonymus. You can get mop-headed standards of these.
But it partly depends on the above and also how shady your spot is. With too much shade you'll struggle to get a good-shaped specimen.
The essential thing is to use a soil-based compost--John Innes no 3 is the best--and to ensure good drainage to your container by putting a few inches of coarse gravel/potsherds in the bottom above the drainage holes (which need to be quite large and multiple) with the compost on top.
I haven't chosen the pots yet as it depends what size plant I get. My preference would be something evergreen as it gives some interest to a bare looking driveway.
I had two standard hollies at the front of my last house. We used large square lead 'style' (resin) containers for them. It was a Victorian sandstone house and they looked well there. They'll cope with pretty much anything
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I know you don't want bay, but I've had one on a north facing patio for many years. It grows well and has been repotted several times.