Which plants, for a large planter?

sevenhills

theoretica said:

Are you thinking geranium or pelargonium?  If the latter, you would need to be prepared to replant every year.

That is ok, this planter is in a town center, so colour is more important than cost.

YoungBlueEyes

We were at a garden centre the other day, this is in their car park. Would something like be suitable? 

Farway

YoungBlueEyes said:

We were at a garden centre the other day, this is in their car park. Would something like be suitable? 

Did you manage to get it into your boot before they noticed? :

YoungBlueEyes

No sadly!  :'(

ArbitraryRandom

When people are saying 'large planter' could someone please give me an idea of size? 

I've just picked up a 130L one (53-69 bottom to top and 55cm tall) that I'm hoping to put a dwarf mulberry in, but I'm also thinking about a crab apple in the front in a tub and I don't know if a second one would be large enough for that? 

The laura crab apple max height is apparently 3m in 10 years (and I might keep it pruned shorter) but it doesn't spread much so shouldn't be too top heavy. 

sevenhills

https://www.externalworksindex.co.uk/category/3-1601/Planters-for-streets-and-parks/

The planter I am referring to is self watering, or is meant to be, they have some sort of tank and then a way to water the soil. Unsure how that works. I planted some fuschia because that was all that was available. I came across some pipework within the soil.
Some good examples in the link.

Farway

ArbitraryRandom said:

The laura crab apple max height is apparently 3m in 10 years (and I might keep it pruned shorter) but it doesn't spread much so shouldn't be too top heavy. 

I can confirm Laura is well-behaved, one I planted a good few years back is just over six feet high and a slender column without side growths

It does mention that you should NOT prune Laura, leave it alone, its natural habit is just upright and slow growing

ArbitraryRandom

sevenhills said:

https://www.externalworksindex.co.uk/category/3-1601/Planters-for-streets-and-parks/

The planter I am referring to is self watering, or is meant to be, they have some sort of tank and then a way to water the soil. Unsure how that works. I planted some fuschia because that was all that was available. I came across some pipework within the soil.
Some good examples in the link.

Thanks. Their smallest 'tree' planter is 105 square by 77 tall, which gives me a decent idea of what to look for. 

They look quite tidy - I hope you'll take some pictures for us when it's all planted up  

-taff

Oh dear god, now I really need a win on the lottery. I delved into the world of corten steel planters and I am in love with a wibbly wobbly one..eventually I wanted the garden to have only thigh high ish planters to avoid the bending needed but now I am lusting after some really good quality ones instead of what I can [ahem] acquire by fair means or foul...

ArbitraryRandom

-taff said:

Oh dear god, now I really need a win on the lottery. I delved into the world of corten steel planters and I am in love with a wibbly wobbly one..eventually I wanted the garden to have only thigh high ish planters to avoid the bending needed but now I am lusting after some really good quality ones instead of what I can [ahem] acquire by fair means or foul...

My plan is two raised beds (about 1x4m) ideally made from breeze block.

At 1m high, should be about 100 blocks if my maths is right... but then I worked out that was something like £4-500 just for the blocks