LONG-LASTING WINTER POTS
Great ideas to brighten up your garden until spring
Shrubs are vital in a garden at any time of year. In spring and summer they work backstage to provide structure and balance in borders while flowers steal the limelight. but as perennials die down, having the right shrubs in place can keep the interest going right through autumn and winter, until snowdrops and crocuses herald the start of the new season.
For many new gardeners, shrubs have a dull, municipal reputation; but within this group of woody plants are some wonderful varieties that have a lot to offer – from flowers that light up borders through autumn to bright berries that attract and provide shelter for wildlife. There are also shrubs with a heady scent or striking foliage and vibrant stems.
shrubs add structure and texture when there are few flowers around, and evergreen types are the backbone of the garden, giving shape to borders in winter, especially when covered in a light dusting of frost.
They provide a vital framework for perennials, bulbs and bedding, and this is no different if you’re using them in pots. In fact, in a small space, the right shrub in a pot is unbeatable for adding autumn and winter interest, and they can be used in a number of ways. Make a shrub the focal ‘ingredient’ in a mixed container, supported by winter bedding or seasonal perennials. Or plant one singly in pot to create a striking feature for an entrance or patio. Compact types, pruned regularly, can easily be kept to a manageable size.
The big advantage of using shrubs in late autumn/winter pots is that they provide a low-maintenance display all year. You can either perk up your container with bedding plants as the weather warms, or use a mix of perennials that peak in different seasons – saving the effort of having to pot up new displays.
At this time of year it makes sense to position containers at vantage points that can be seen from indoors. That way, you will have something eye-catching to look out on as the list of gardening jobs shortens along with the daylight hours.
“The right shrub is unbeatable”