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Container Gardening
By Susan Rafanelli/Botanica Designs
Containers that grace your entryways or are
seen year round may require a face-lift for wintertime. We
typically use containers for spring-fall color accents using
a combination of perennials and annual plants. These plants
often die back during the cold winter months.Fall is a good
time to revive your pots for winter removing the spindly summer
annuals. Choosing from some of the following plants can not
only add winter interest, but also carry through to summer
and beyond.Although a mixture of container sizes creates a
nice visual, the larger the container the better for all the
plants involved in it. A large container holds more moisture,
protects roots more and makes a bigger statement. Larger and
thicker (a minimum of 1" or more) containers survive winter
freezing without cracks. Move smaller containers to a sheltered
area in your garden or into the garage.Please note that plants
in containers require watering if they are under an eave or
on a covered porch. Since plant roots are not as well insulated
as they would be in the ground, very cold weather can easily
kill a hardy plant that is containerized. Decide on a game
plan for moving containers to a garage or protecting (wrapping
with insulation of some sort) when the temperatures and wind
chill dip below freezing. Evergreen
Shrubs or shrubs with winter interest
By choosing these evergreens, you can purchase
a small 1-Gallon size and let it grow for a few years in a
container. When it becomes too large, move it into your garden
or find a new home for it. Those that have winter foliage
interest or bloom in the winter are even more valuable. Suggested
plants to use would be:
- Pieris
japonica 'Variegata'', 'Purity' or 'Prelude'/lily of the
valley shrub
- Sarcoccoca
rustifolia/fragrant sweet box
- Nandina
domestica 'Harbor Dwarf' or 'Gulf Stream'
- Euonymous
microphylla'Variegata'/ variegated boxleaf euonymous
- Ilex
crenata 'Hellerii'/ dwarf Japanese holly
Topiary
The formal look requires lots of pruning. You
can also purchase forms to let evergreen ivy train around.
Evergreen Grasses and Ferns
These need to be divided every few years to
keep their size in check. Look for interesting foliage color
and textures.
- Carex
morrowii 'Variegata' or 'Evergold' / Japanese carex
- Carex
flagellifera/brown carex
- Helictotrychon
semperviven /blue oat grass
- Polypodium
polyblepharum/ Japanese tassel fern
- Phyllitis
scolopendruim /Hart's tongue fern
Perennials and Bulbs with winter
interest
This includes other herbaceous perennials more
woody perennials and bulbs that bloom earliest in our area.
The bulbs can be planted in when you refresh your containers
in the fall.
- Muscari
/ grape hyacinth
- Galanthus
/ snow drops
- Gaultheria
procumbens / winter green
- Hellebores
orientalis
- Heuchera
'Chocolate Ruffles' or 'Pewter Moon' / purple leaf heuchera
- Saxifragia
'Variegata' / variegated London Pride
- Violas
/ Johnny jump-ups and winter pansies
Cuttings
from winter pruning
Many taller shrubs require heavy pruning in
January. These twigs can be scaled down and pushed into container
soil. They will last for several weeks, often up to one month.
Cuttings with interesting or unusual stems or ornamental berries,
fruit or catkins work well. Some suggestions would be:
- Cornus
alba, C. stolonifera or C.s.'Flaviramea'/ red or yellow
twig dogwood
- Ilex
/ holly branches with berries or any other type of branches
with ornamental berries or fruit
- Any
conifer cuttings
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