Garden / Containers
Soil depth. The quantity of soil you need in a container depends on the type of plant and how deep the roots grow. •18 inches to 2 feet for shrubs •2 to 3 feet for small trees Growing small trees in containers is another notable case where you want as much soil as possible. At least 2 feet of soil depth, more ideally 3 feet, will set up potted trees like olive, Japanese maple, magnolia, crabapple, citrus and others to thrive.
Paperplant (Fatsia japonica) Showy paperplant shrubs have a useful niche in the landscape: They’re tropical-looking, fairly cold-tolerant and shade-loving, which can be a difficult combination to find. Planted under tree canopies, in shadowy corners and in shaded side yards, paperplant quickly fills in with its luxurious, glossy foliage. The plants produce white flowers in fall, followed by clusters of black berries, but the foliage is the real star. The tropical-looking palmate leaves can reach up to 16 inches wide. Garden plants typically reach 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, although they can reach 16 feet tall in tropical climates. In cold-winter regions, grow paperplant as a houseplant and set it out on a shaded patio in summer. Where it will grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 9.4 degrees Celsius (zones 8 to 11) Water requirement: Regular Light requirement: Partial to full shade
Summer glow. On her front porch in Greenville, South Carolina, Claire Richards grows ‘Fireworks’ fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Fireworks’, zones 9 to 10), white pelargonium, lantana, cholea, coleus, periwinkle and a sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas, zones 9 to 11) in the big container. Red gerber daisies match her favorite groupings (Alabama Crimson Tide) on the right, and more of the plants seen in the larger container grow on the left. Richards advises gardeners to use good soil and not overwater for container gardening success.
Edible innovation. Diane Hernandez doesn’t even have to stoop or kneel to harvest from her raised bed garden in Placerville, California, which overlooks wineries, Christmas tree ranches and pumpkin farms. Ten galvanized feed tanks sit on PVC stands with soaker hoses going into each tank. She’s growing an abundance of flowers, including zinnias (Zinnia elegans, annual), bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis, annual), sage (Salvia sp.) and snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus, zones 7 to 10; often grown as an annual). In addition, she has tomatoes, cucumbers, asparagus, strawberries and romaine lettuce. While she is new to container gardening, Hernandez has learned a lot already. “This is my first attempt at container gardening, but one of the most important things I’ve learned is not to plant close to the container edge, as plants can quickly dry out,” she says. The height of the containers makes it easy for her to garden and harder for pests to get into the containers. Mixing edibles with flowers not only beautifies the garden but also keeps the edible plants healthier
Contemporary collection. Debbie Lusk has used the same principles of landscape design to create the balanced and elegant container vignette in her Portland, Oregon, front yard. In the tall beehive container she grows cabbage palm (Cordyline sp., zones 8 to 11), with its long strappy foliage. In the shorter container, fine-textured tickseed (Coreopsis sp., zones 4 to 9) contrasts with the taller plant while accenting the red foliage. Lusk loves so much about container gardening. “The love comes from thoughtful planting, since I will see it every day, and thoughtful collections, rocks and shells that mean a lot to me and remind of places I’ve been,” she says.
Succulent tray. Heather Burkhardt designed this succulent tray filled mainly with echeveria, senecio and stonecrop. The balance of soft mauves, greens and blues creates a cooling vignette to contrast the heat of the season. When designing containers like this one, Burkhardt likes to follow standard design principles. “I really like symmetry and creating a focal point. I love repeating colors and using plants with similar textures, but perhaps different shapes. Playing warm and cool colors off of each other also creates interest for me,” she says.
Wall-mounted mini landscape. If you find yourself staring at a bare wall outside, you can mount a container on the wall. Better yet, hang a mini landscape, like the one shown here by Houzz user Joy Haff. Succulents surround a garden gnome, birdhouse and owl, while a ceramic bird is suspended below.
Star of the show with supporting cast. In this container in Ladue, Missouri, also by Kim Gamel, the majority of the plants highlight the tall, central Canna ‘Pink Sunburst’. “I love this plant because of the striped color of its leaves, ranging from green to yellow to orange,” Gamel says. In addition to the canna, redvein dock (Rumex sanguineus), Little Ruby alternanthera (Alternanthera dentata ‘LRU30’), helichrysum, tuberous begonia and coleus round out this rich, layered container that sits outside the back door of Gamel’s home.
Spring Containers!
'Iceberg or Pillow Fight' Roses
Buy an old fireplace screen and hang 'French Market' can/containers, for vertical gardening, from it!
Pumpkin containers!
Uplit treed planters Soil depth. The quantity of soil you need in a container depends on the type of plant and how deep the roots grow. •12 inches for annuals •12 to 18 inches for perennials •18 inches to 2 feet for shrubs •2 to 3 feet for small trees
Lysimachia Nummularia 'Aurea' / Golden Creeping Jenny
Cor-Ten Steel
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