Planter

JJJackal

Just ordered a vidaXL planter. Trying to decide what to put in it. Would like some plant that spilled over the side. Any thoughts?

Its 240cm long, 44 cm high and about 80 cm wide. There is no bottom to it i.e. roots could potentially grow straight down into the ground below (it will be on a lawn beside a shed)

All opinions welcome! Thanks

looksee

The most important point about planters is what direction they face, that is, how much sun will it get. Assuming it will get some sun for maybe half the day then you have lots of choice. Next is how much time you want to spend on it. You could plant it with a couple of perennials - something that will just continue to grow from year to year, or you could plant it with annuals that you replace every year.

If you are prepared to buy a few annuals you could get a great display. In the early autumn buy a few bulbs - small daffodils (the large ones make too much leaf for a planter and dominate it for several months) would be good. Plant them fairly deep then you have a layer of growing medium that you can put annuals into as the daffodils go over. Some violas (small pansies) are good early in the year. Then as the weather gets warmer - May - a selection of annuals such as Petunias, Million Bells, Nemesia, Lobelia etc, there are lots to choose from all the ones mentioned will trail. Then later in the year a few more violas and possibly a few small cyclamen will brighten it up.

The bulbs and cyclamen are permanent residents, all the others should be ruthlessly removed as they go over and replaced with new annuals.

Alternatively you could put in a couple of small shrubs or herbaceous plants for all year round, then add annuals and a few bulbs around them. The miniature roses do quite well in this situation, or plants like pieris, lavender, dwarf conifers would be ok. You do have to manage them though, planters do need ongoing care if they are not to look sad and neglected.

When you are filling the planter look for compost with John Innes, or make a mixture of good top soil and compost. If you use compost only it dries out into a solid lump that is hard to re-wet, and soil alone tends not to be fertile and friable (loose, crumbly) enough for a planter.

JJJackal

looksee wrote: »

The most important point about planters is what direction they face, that is, how much sun will it get. Assuming it will get some sun for maybe half the day then you have lots of choice. Next is how much time you want to spend on it. You could plant it with a couple of perennials - something that will just continue to grow from year to year, or you could plant it with annuals that you replace every year.

If you are prepared to buy a few annuals you could get a great display. In the early autumn buy a few bulbs - small daffodils (the large ones make too much leaf for a planter and dominate it for several months) would be good. Plant them fairly deep then you have a layer of growing medium that you can put annuals into as the daffodils go over. Some violas (small pansies) are good early in the year. Then as the weather gets warmer - May - a selection of annuals such as Petunias, Million Bells, Nemesia, Lobelia etc, there are lots to choose from all the ones mentioned will trail. Then later in the year a few more violas and possibly a few small cyclamen will brighten it up.

The bulbs and cyclamen are permanent residents, all the others should be ruthlessly removed as they go over and replaced with new annuals.

Alternatively you could put in a couple of small shrubs or herbaceous plants for all year round, then add annuals and a few bulbs around them. The miniature roses do quite well in this situation, or plants like pieris, lavender, dwarf conifers would be ok. You do have to manage them though, planters do need ongoing care if they are not to look sad and neglected.

When you are filling the planter look for compost with John Innes, or make a mixture of good top soil and compost. If you use compost only it dries out into a solid lump that is hard to re-wet, and soil alone tends not to be fertile and friable (loose, crumbly) enough for a planter.

Thank you very much. Some great advise. Had planned to just fill it with compost I must say!

I also forgot about daffodils. Love a few daffodils and tulips - will certainly be adding those in!