potted plantings
trawberries. One of the pleasures of growing strawberries in a container is the sight of the berries cascading over the side. Another pleasure is that you can put that container close to where you like to sit, then easily reach out to pick a strawberry as you’re relaxing in the garden. For something different, grow strawberries in a hanging container. You’ll have them at eye level while keeping snails and slugs from getting to your crop. A strawberry jar is the classic choice for a pot, but strawberries aren’t fussy about outer appearances as long as the container is at least 8 inches deep. If you’re planting in a hanging basket, go a little larger, to at least a foot wide and deep
5. Keep Container Arrangements Simple and Deliberate While Nolan’s design strategy to plant in groups of three could work for larger containers, the designer says he often prefers to keep containers more minimal. “One plant per pot is my usual rule,” Nolan says, adding that he finds it makes designs look more deliberate. Nolan shies away from most flowering plants, saying he prefers to focus on species with fabulous forms and foliage. He goes for plants in soothing colors. “I almost never use red. It’s too jarring for me,” Nolan says. “My go-to plants are usually [in] shades of green, blue and silver.” Here, tree euphorbia towers above a cascade of blue-green donkey tail succulent and a separate pot of velvety kalanchoe. Plant list: Tree euphorbia (Euphorbia lambii, zones 9 to 11), donkey tail (Sedum morganianum, Zone 11) and velvet leaf kalanchoe (Kalanchoe beharensis var. subnuda, zones 11 to 12) Light requirement: Full sun to bright, indirect light Water requirement: Low
Black and gold. This bold container composition has an unusual mix of black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’), brilliant gold ‘Delta Dawn’ coral bells (Heuchera ‘Delta Dawn’), yellow-leaved ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ box honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’) and white-flowering heather (Calluna vulgaris). The most unexpected part is the sweet, citrusy perfume of ‘Eternal Fragrance’ Daphne (Daphne transatlantica ‘Eternal Fragrance’), which blooms well into fall. Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Partial shade to full sun
5. Structural succulents. In a tall bronze-colored container, the wavy stalks of upright aeonium (Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’) are just as ornamental as their deep purple flower-like rosettes. A mix of aloe and echeveria plants fills in around the base of the aeonium, while delicate tendrils of string-of-pearls succulents (Senecio rowleyanus) spill over the edge of the container. This frost-tender composition would be best for warm-winter climates. Water requirement: Low Light requirement: Full sun
4. Understated elegance. A stately Hick’s yew tree (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’) looks good year-round, with dark needle-like foliage studded with decorative red fruits. Underplanted with houseplants including purple inch plant (Tradescantia sp.) and bright orange ornamental peppers, the container looks festive from late summer into fall. In winter, replace the underplanted houseplants with cold-hardy heathers (Erica spp.) or cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) and string the yew tree with twinkling lights. Notes: All parts of yew are toxic if ingested, and only female trees bear fruit. Water requirement: Moderate (yew tree requires little water once established) Light requirement: Partial shade to full sun
. Fall flame. The aptly named ‘Sticks on Fire’ milkbush (Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire’) lights up this potted succulent arrangement in Santa Barbara, California, with its branched, coral-like structure and brilliant orange color. Lean it against a post or provide sturdy stakes to support this tall, brittle plant. The addition of deep purple aeonium (Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’) and purple cordyline creates a rich fall color palette that is perfect for warm-winter climates. Green-leafed aeonium (Aeonium ‘Starburst’), blue chalk sticks (Senecio mandraliscae) and slender myoporum (Myoporum parvifolium) round out the front of the container
Rain gutters. Make your own vertical garden by repurposing metal rain gutters — cut to your desired length and end-capped — into wall-mounted planters. Drill drainage holes in the gutters before mounting, or attach the ends of the gutters to allow water to slowly flow out. Annual flowers, like pansies, or trailing sedums and other shallow-rooting succulents could grow well in the gutters for a season or longer.
Shade: Rhododendron, huechera, foam flower
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