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What shall I grow in this pot?
I have a large blue pot that got dumped in a spot in the border while we sorted out the lawn, but I've decided I like it there. I've got a few ideas about what to put in it but can't make up my mind. What would *you* grow there?
It's in shade first and last thing but gets sun in the middle of the day. It gets more light over all in winter when the trees are not in leaf.
There's a geranium Johnson's blue, a tiarella and various ferns around it.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
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A small shrub, such as Hibiscus or one of the dwarf Buddleias, or perhaps a hardy banana such as Musella lasiocarpa.
I use containers for plants that do not like my clay soil so I can give them the conditions they like, and I would suggest you do likewise.
As it is beside a seating area, I think I would go for something seasonal and colourful to go with the blueness of the pot changing it with the seasons so there is always something colourful where you are sitting. You could have violas in the winter, with some primulas maybe; you could have your geraniums in the summer, perhaps a creamy one or pale pink or dianthus....the possibilities are many.
You could plant the middle with an evergreen dot plant such as a small hebe, osmanthus etc then add seasonal bedding to compliment the shrub.
I think I'd agree with Redwing - change it seasonally, and you can do that easily by planting up a plastic pot to put inside it and just remove that when you want a change.
Bulbs in spring, annuals in summer etc. An evergreen for over winter is also a good idea. Most things will be happy with the amount of light and aspect you have there. An evergreen tumbling sedge or a Hebe would do the evergreen 'winter' season.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I would do the seasonal changing thing and think about fragrance too as it's near where you sit. I have some sort of miniscule pinks that my predecessor left and the smell is lovely as we pass by.
Because of the bulging shape of the pot, just make sure you don't plant a tree or shrub which will need repotting some time in the future as you will never get the rootball out without damaging the roots or breaking the pot. I know someone who planted an expensive Japanese acer in one and had to break the pot to get it out.
Good advice, Bob, been there a couple of times!
Yes, it's had a crinodendron in it for the last 20 years... 'luckily' it died, so chopping it up wasn't a problem, but it was still a total nightmare to get the rootball out.
Thanks for your suggestions everyone - I like the idea of scent particularly, and hadn't thought of that. I was initially going to have ferns, but have decided against as I've planted lots nearby. Then I wondered about hostas?
I wonder how much I could layer. Spring bulbs wold be wonderful, but I think I'd want to leave them in (though perhaps I could use the pot sinking idea for that).
Last edited: 22 May 2016 14:09:38
It's like winning the lottery LG.What would you spend your £150 on?
Whatever you do make sure it is in proportion - big plants for big containers, small plants for small containers. Spring bulbs might be a bit small for such a big container.