Ashburton
Plants in containers can be rewarding for summer patio colour. Use bold and colourful plantings that last well into late autumn.
Alan Trott falls for dramatic pots.
Over the last few years, colourful pots have become available in many shapes and sizes at reasonable prices. There are now even large black polypropylene planters for sale at very reasonable cost, and I find these well worth purchasing (and if you plant cascading plants, does it matter what the pot colour is). Most come with saucers which is an added bonus; this holds water and keeps the patio clean.
Choose a pot which is a reasonable size.
This is better for the plant and also water retention.
If you opt for a terracotta planter, seal the pot inside and out with a good sealant. I sometimes just use up some old paint for the inside of the pot as it won’t be seen when filled with potting mix. This helps with water retention and will help prolong the life of your pot. (It is also one way to use up all those odd pots of paint that seem to accumulate.)
A reputable potting mix with water retention crystals and long-term fertiliser is the secret to happy plants. This type of potting mix is more expensive but well worth it in the long run. A foliar feed later in the summer gives plants a final boost and keeps them healthy till late autumn.
The right plant for the right spot is always important.
If you have a sunny spot all day, choose a plant that thrives in full sun and requires less watering; if you have a shady spot, choose something that thrives in shade, with bold foliage such as hostas.
Over the last few years I have used some wonderful cannas with colourful foliage as well as flowers. Canna ‘Bengal Tiger’ has bright green and gold variegated leaves, and bright orange flowers. Canna ‘Tropicana Black’ is a wonderful, new dark-leaved form with almost black leaves and orangey-red flowers, and I have found this plant to be a standout in the crowd. If you keep deadheading, you will have them flowering for many months.
In winter I put the pots against the house in a sunny, frost-free area and don’t water them.
I don’t cut the foliage off till early spring – do it just when the new shoots are just starting to move.
Grasses can be dramatic in containers and Lomandra ‘White Sands’ is a winner with its creamy white variegated leaves which remain upright and spiky. I have seen this growing in both a red and blue pot, and both look stunning in these contrasting colours. The added bonus is that it is reasonably drought tolerant.
If you have a large pot of over 40 litres, try Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’ as it too has variegated but upright growth over 1m tall and can make a real statement planted each side of an entrance. Plant some annuals such as petunias at its base.
Shady spots can sometimes be dull but planting some of the new heucheras will make a statement, especially some of the new gold and coppery leaved ones. I have just planted Heucherella ‘Plum Cascade’ in a large pot. Heucherellas are a cross between heuchera and tiarella, which makes them a more trailing plant. ‘Plum Cascade’ has purple leaves which is slightly veined, making it an attractive plant. For a bold statement, Hosta ‘Empress Wu’ is the largest hosta available. Put slug bail around the base of the plant as slugs and snails thrive on hostas.
Adding annuals in a container is the best way to make a dramatic show.
A medley of plants is best. Petunias, both bush and trailing varieties, are great for a sunny spot. Lobelia ‘Cascade’ always performs well and comes in dark blue, soft blue and white. Bedding begonias flower for up to six months and require no deadheading. When the first frost hits, put them in a warm, frost-free spot and usually they will come alive again in spring.
For something really dramatic on your patio, plant a brugmansia in a large 80-litre container. This year, I am trying one. So far, it’s thriving and big, long golden trumpets are appearing. It’s going to be challenging keeping it alive over winter but I will wrap it well in bubble wrap and store it in a dry shed over winter with no watering.
I am also growing the red-leaved perennial banana Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ which has dramatic red-bronze paddle-like leaves which need wind protection. Last winter, I cut all the leaves off, wrapped it in frost cloth, stored it in the shed away from frost and no watering. Early September, it came alive and now this amazing plant is giving us so much joy, and everyone who sees it says “Wow!’’.
So plant what you like and what you feel is right. It always works.