Container Garden First Timer needs tips!

gtothec

Hi everyone,

I've recently moved into a new house and have a patio area that is basically just poured cement and not very nice!

I dream about arranging lots of lovely pots and containers around and have been looking on the web for ideas. I'm completely new to gardening and have never grown a thing!

I think I'd like to grow some pots of hardy perennials as they seem to be good value :money:. I'm looking for something interesting to fill the pot year round and then obviously flower at some point during the spring or summer.

Gardeners world website is great for showing pics of plants and getting tips, but I'd love someone to tell me what to do basically!

Can anyone give any tips on what, if anything I can put in a pot at this time of year? When should I think about planting other things for the summer?

I live half way up a mountain so I get a lot of daylight and wind.

Look forward to your tips or directions to websites - hope someone can help me get my greenfingers working!

Many thanks!

jollyanna

At this time of year I'd start with some Lavender, Rosemary, Bay, Escalonia and Ceanothus, all evergreen and all will give pretty flowers next year. I'd buy good sized potted plants of these so that in Spring you will see plentiful new growth and feel you have well established plants.
Don't forget to get some bulbs in around your pots right now.
In Spring try growing sage from seed (evergreen and really easy as well as culinary uses) and leafy plants such as Huchera, Coleus and Lady's Mantle will add some lively colour.
The RHS site is excellent for general information.
I live on the coast and adhere to a gardening mantra of "never underestimate the drying power of the wind" so keep your new pots well watered in the dry winds. Good luck and enjoy yourself.

blossomhill_2

Depending on where you live penstemons could be a good idea - they survive well here in the south even though only half hardies and the flowering season is so long mine are still in bloom in December poking out of the snow

And sedum spectabile autumn joy is interesting through the year but as it says on the pot...a joy in autumn
Good luck whatever you decide to grow

gtothec

Thanks so much for your replies.

I've had a look into the species that you have both recommended, along with some other plants. I've come up with the following wish list - perhaps you could tell me if you think they will be ok - and of course any other tips would be most welcome.

Please work on the assumption that I know absolutely nothing about gardening. As this is the truth!

So, the wish list is as follows:

Evergreen - I understand these can go outside now?

Standard Cytisus Yellow - 2 Shrubs
Ceanothus Yankee Point - 1 Shrub
Laurus nobilis Standard Bay Tree - 1 Shrub - can these be eaten year round?
Sedum spectabile Brilliant – Evergreen
Sedum spectabile Matrona Key to Heaven

Lavender x 3 plants



Spring bulbs - can be planted now but won't make an appearance until at least feb?

Crocus Botanical Mix - 50 Flower Bulbs €5.95
Tulips Impression Mixture - 25 Flower Bulbs €8.95
Exotic Narcissi Collection - 40 Flower Bulbs €15.95
Primula elatior Silver Lace Scarlet - 3 Plants €6.95


Would eventually like to have in my garden:

Lace cap Hydrangea
Jasmine – smells nice
Lupins
Hollyhocks
Rocket
Coriander, basil, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, mint


Any tips on the last section there particularly welcome - e.g when to grow, to grow from seed or plant or whatever.

And finally - can everything be grown in pots or containers?



Thanks

jenie_2

Winter pansies look lovely in pots and they last ages, also they are quite cheap for a tray of plug plants, most of the big supermarkets are selling them at the moment, although living half way up a mountain you may not have one on your doorstep lol. I have several hardy fuchsias in pots, one of my favourite plants, I had them intermingled with pots of nasturtiums, begonias, petunias and marigolds, all making a stunning display this summer.

Need2bthrifty

Hi gtothec, I cant say that I am much of an expert gardener, but like you I moved into a property where the garden area was mostly slabbed/gravelled/concrete, so I bought a few containers, including aluminium dustbins (cheaper than the large pots in garden centres) to plant up for a bit of colour and to grow edibles.

I layered my spring bulbs in various sized pots to get regular flowering without having to constantly replant ie, tulips at the bottom, layer of compost, daffs, layer of compost, crocus and snowdrops at the top layer then planted winter pansies on the top so there was always something in flower.

I planted a dwarf rhodedendrum (sorry for spelling) which has lasted for years and have a bush rose, lavender and trailing geranium still in flower at the moment.

During the summer I have had success in growing carrots, celery, beetroot and cabbage in the pots.

A bit like you I am in a position where I get a fierce wind, so try and protect them as much as poss - using fleece or sheltering by moving them close to the house.

Good luck and have fun with your pots.

jollyanna

Instead of Jasmine, why not go for hardy Gardenia (Kleims)which is evergreen and the blossoms are so fragrant .It is shrub rather than climber. I got mine online 2 years ago and they even got through last winter without any protection. Not sure if I'm allowed to say where from, but it was Jersy plants, free delivery and 10% (I think ) cashback from Quidco.

twiglet98

Need2bthrifty wrote: »

I layered my spring bulbs in various sized pots to get regular flowering without having to constantly replant ie, tulips at the bottom, layer of compost, daffs, layer of compost, crocus and snowdrops at the top layer then planted winter pansies on the top so there was always something in flower.

What a brilliant idea, I've had very little experience with bulbs because the clay here is either like concrete or glue, with no middle course, and I can't dig it. This sounds a great way to get a beautiful display