{"id":8768,"date":"2011-01-18T09:00:08","date_gmt":"2011-01-18T13:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nybg.org\/plant-talk\/?p=8768"},"modified":"2011-07-19T15:18:22","modified_gmt":"2011-07-19T19:18:22","slug":"more-container-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nybg.org\/blogs\/plant-talk\/2011\/01\/tip-of-the-week\/more-container-options\/","title":{"rendered":"More Container Options"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\nSonia Uyterhoeven<\/a> is Gardener for Public Education. <\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"Winterberry\"<\/a>Last week we looked dwarf conifers as container plants. Single containers \u2013 particularly with a small to medium sized tree or shrub can happily fill a corner on a patio. Sometimes, however, they look a little lonely, particularly if they don\u2019t have enough pizzazz or weight to hold up on their own. <\/p>\n

Many container plants look better when clustered in groups to form miniature landscapes. There is great latitude in how a homeowner can approach this task. The containers could all be the same giving a uniform look or you could go for a more eclectic arrangement of colorful and expressive pots. One way will give a formal feel to the arrangement while the other will give it an \u2018arts and crafts\u2019 feel.<\/p>\n

You likewise have endless possibilities with your plant choices. Are you trying to create the feel of a miniature woodland on your patio, replicate a foundation planting or have a foray into a mixed perennial garden? It is important to have a vision of what you would like to create before you start selecting your container plants.<\/p>\n

Last week we spoke a little bit about the mechanics of planting a container and looked at miniature and dwarf conifers that would thrive in a well-contained environment. While you can create a beautiful setting with all conifers, experimenting with different shades of green, yellow and blue and accenting this with all of the wonderful textures and forms that ornamental conifers come in these days having some broadleaf evergreen or deciduous playmates is always a good idea to increase interest. <\/p>\n

Japanese Maples are particularly suited to container culture. They don\u2019t mind having their roots restricted by the containers and do not require frequent repotting. There are many dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties to choose from. <\/p>\n

A wonderful Japanese maple that is semi-dwarf is Acer palmatum<\/em> \u2018Shaina\u2019. Shaina is a bright red in the spring, turning to a deep purple red in the summer and then back to bright red in the fall. Other Japanese maples that you can look into are Acer palmatum<\/em> \u2018Koto no ito\u2019, \u2018Kamagata\u2019, \u2018Sharp\u2019s Pygmy\u2019 and \u2018Tsuma gaki\u2019. <\/p>\n

Mountain laurels always look spectacular in containers and are often at their best when their glossy foliage and explosion of spring color is displayed at close proximity. Some of the diminutive cultivars that are very successful are Kalmia latifolia \u2018Elf\u2019, \u2018Little Linda\u2019 and \u2018Tiddlywinks\u2019. For slightly larger yet still nicely compact varieties try Kalmia latifolia<\/em> \u2018Sarah\u2019 and \u2018Carousel\u2019. <\/p>\n

A few weeks ago we spoke about winterberry. Several of them are also very adaptable in containers such as the compact Ilex verticillata<\/em> \u2018Red Sprite\u2019, \u2018Shaver\u2019 and \u2018Aurantiaca\u2019. Don\u2019t forget to add a male holly into your mix otherwise you will be disappointed with the lack of fruit (winterberry is dioecious \u2013 needing both a male and female plant to produce fruit). <\/p>\n

Other candidates that you could toy with are the dwarf red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea<\/em> \u2018Kelseyi\u2019), a dwarf boxwood (Buxus) such as Buxus microphylla var. koreana<\/em> \u2018Green Gem\u2019 or Buxus sempervirens<\/em> \u2018Schmidt\u2019 or a buttercup winterhazel (Corylopsis pauciflora<\/em>). There are many to choose from \u2013 this is just a few to get you thinking about how to refurbish your patio. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sonia Uyterhoeven is Gardener for Public Education. Last week we looked dwarf conifers as container plants. Single containers \u2013 particularly with a small to medium sized tree or shrub can happily fill a corner on a patio. Sometimes, however, they look a little lonely, particularly if they don\u2019t have enough pizzazz or weight to hold… <\/p>\n

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