Not only do they require less watering than annual pots and baskets, they are seldom affected by pests when potted up. To use, simply dig up plants in the early spring, pot up, and watch them fill out.
When fall comes around, plant back in the soil to enjoy again next year. Coral bells not only grow well as a potted perennial, they do so almost anywhere you place them. From heavily shades areas, to locations that receive full sun. Although coral bells prefer partial shade, they will survive well in nearly all lighting conditions. And much like hostas, they are extremely low maintenance. The compact growing style and geranium-style foliage make them a perfect perennial choice for pots.
And with foliage colors ranging from green, to dark purple, red and even salmon, there is variety to match nearly every space. Hardy from zones four through nine, simply transplant back into the ground each fall to use again and again. Option three is to wait until fall and then transplant the plant into the soil. Leave it there through the winter and then dig it up in spring and put it back in the pot, or leave it permanently in its new home.
The final option is a technique that northern gardeners who grow hybrid tea roses know well. In very cold climates the only way to overwinter hybrid tea roses is to dig a trench, tip the plant over into the trench and then cover it with soil or mulch to protect it for the winter. This method will also work with potted perennials and shrubs. In the spring simply uncover the plant, sit the pot upright, clean it up as necessary and move it to its normal spot. In order to overwinter a perennial or shrub in a container outside, it needs to be two zones hardier than the zone you live in.
Perennials and shrubs that are in your zone or one colder can be overwintered in an unheated garage, buried in the ground, or transplanted.
Perennials and shrubs in containers will need water through the winter but should not be kept wet. Do not fertilize through the winter. When active growth begins in the spring, start fertilizing the plant. View our Pinterest board of perfectly-sized shrubs for containers here. And pin perennials for containers from this board. Search this site:. Create Account Upgrade Account to Professional. We're listening! Contact Us. Get Local. Log In. Find plants you love and create idea boards for all your projects.
What to consider when selecting perennials for containers:. Perennials typically will not grow to full size in a container because their roots are restricted. Larger perennials may only reach about half the normal size. Compact or dwarf varieties of large perennials are best for containers. Perennials with a spreading form may overtake other plants in the container and eventually outgrow the container. Vining plants can be grown on a pillar frame inserted into the container or allowed to spill over the sides.
Shade containers will rely heavily on foliage for interest. Choose colorful, variegated or heavily textured leaves. Remember that perennials usually need two seasons to reach their size and flowering potential. You may want to use a few annuals the first year to give your container that full look.
Plan an overwintering method for containers with plants that are not at least two zones hardier than your growing zone. Just about any perennial is worth trying in a container, but these are few perennials that seem to do best and will overwinter well if two zones hardier than your growing zone:. Best Perennials for Containers in a Sunny Location.
Achillea : Yarrow will grow in just about any conditions. Tall feathery foliage with flat flower clusters in a good color range are a great centerpiece in a container.
For best flowering do not fertilize. Hardy to zone 3. Aster : Asters love moist cool summers and are hardy to zone 4. Make sure they get plenty of sun, feed lightly but regularly and allow for good drainage. Chrysanthemum: Mums do exceptionally well in containers with plenty of sun and moist soil.
They bloom in late summer to frost. Choose a dwarf or compact variety and be careful about hardiness, some are not cold hardy at all. Coreopsis : There are several species and varieties of coreopsis, all should do well in a container. They prefer a thorough watering weekly. Just take note of mature size and hardiness, some are even annuals. Cranesbill : Hardy geraniums are perfect to form a mound that spills over a smaller container, or as a lower growing filler plant that will sprawl where it can find room in a larger container.
I always recommend a high quality soil-less potting mix. This potting mix can be reused each season and enhanced with new ingredients. Keep the plants well fertilized. Because we must water pots more frequently than plants in the ground, we need to replenish nutrients that are flushed away.
If you want to grow your pots organically, top-dress every couple of weeks with earthworm compost and Yum Yum Mix. Compost tea is also excellent. Growing conventionally, use Osmocote slow release fertilizer mixed into the soil at potting time and supplement with water-soluble Miracle-Gro or equivalent once every week or two. Don't put gravel in the bottom of the pot! Counter to popular belief, adding gravel to the bottom of the pot actually encourages water to saturate soil, and makes it more difficult for the water to leave the soil.
This is a useless technique that can actually restrict drainage in the pots. Fill the pots completely with soil-less mix. Be sure that there are drainage holes in the bottom of your pot. If the pot has a large drainage hole, I'll put an irregular rock over the hole that doesn't seal the hole and allows for water to flow out. Leaving pots out-of-doors year-round: If you want to leave your containers outside year-round, I recommend using a fiberglass pot or the pot-in-pot strategy to avoid cracked pots and cold damaged roots.
For pot-in-pot cultivation, plant in a plastic nursery container and drop this pot into a slightly larger ceramic pot. Fill the empty space in between with small bark nuggets. This insulates the inside pot from heat and cold and allows winter watering without cracking the ceramic pot.
Kniphofia gives a pop of color in a container! Customer Photo By Kim G. Coreopsis fills out this container nicely for a sunny display. Customer photo by Barbara F. Agastache grows surprisingly well in containers, as it prefers well-draining soil. Customer photo by Wendy H.
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