Keep it Contained

CONTAINERS

BASKETS

TUBS AND POTS

 

 

The more I think about this, the more the realisation dawns that this is a huge subject, so much so that there are entire books devoted to it in all its many permutations. 

 

 

 

Any garden, no matter how large or small, can benefit from the addition of pots, containers and hanging baskets how ever dramatic or simplistic the subject it's irrefutable that pots of all manner of style and content, can be used to great effect and the results can deliver a little sprinkle of magic or a massive architectural statement.

 

 

For anyone restricted to a small courtyard or balcony a container garden offers the perfect solution and the range of design, plants and layout is limited only by your own imagination.  Virtually anything that can be grown in the ground will perform equally as happily in a pot.  The same rules apply, so ensure you provide the right conditions of light, compost, water and appropriate levels of sunlight or shade as there’s no reason why a container garden should not be equally as pleasing and successful as any border.

 

 

 

The watering is a critical consideration.  It's important to remember that wind can be very drying and for this reason it's often necessary to water more frequently than you might think.  Some plants are also very thirsty and when you include these in a display they may take moisture from other less greedy varieties so that's another reason to keep topping up.  If pots are ranged against a wall, up close to the house then these can often be sheltered from rainfall and therefore surprisingly dry even following a shower.  This is deceptive and so it's often a sensible precaution to feel the compost around the plants as this will give a better indication of conditions rather than judging just by looking or assuming. 

A gap of 1"-2" should be left at the neck of the container to allow in water.  If the compost is compacted around the plants at too great a height then any water that is poured on will simply run straight off before it's had a chance to soak in and down to where it's needed.

Don't forget to keep dead heading for the life of the plant.

 

Although a colourful patio arrangement always gives eye popping impact pots offer many more options than just a static display. 

 

 

 

They can for instance to moved into a border to conceal any bare patched or to display something dramatically exotic that can later be retrieved and overwintered inside, without the nee to dig it up.

An impressive feature is to stage the pots in a stepped arrangement by means of stacking or racking as this adds height, thereby increasing the quantity and density and producing an attractively striking display. 

There are now even commercially available planters to create this effect.

A range of planting showing a recurring theme or colour palette looks crisp or simply stick to decorative foliage. 

The possibilities are endless.

 

 

 

 

 

A container display doesn't have to consist of only annuals and be something that'll last just one season.  Some plants and shrubs can enjoy a permanent home in a pot where they'll thrive for many years.


Another advantage of containers is that they can be moved around to best effect.  Thus, always positioning them centre stage when the plant is at its peak flowering time.