Container Gardening

@tangham You can successfully grow and flower peonies in pots. I have.. Plant in a 12 ins pot with adequate drainage holes at the base. It is best to use a soil based compost yes, use John Innes No3. As is the best growing medium for them as they do not thrive in peat-based composts. Do not...

Tyres can be used to create ponds too. I think there was someone on here awhile back who did that. I remember the photos but not the member's name.

I think ultimately you really need to improve the soil, I know clay can be a problem, but once you get it into a good condition its one of the best.The plants you have put in, how long have they been planted? 2 weeks? I suggest the root balls have dried out, once dry, they are difficult to re...

Ok thank you @pete you’ve been a great help to me

Looks to me like the new growth is being killed off by cold winds. I think that is often a problem with Acers, they like a sheltered position away from hot sun in summer and winds when the new foliage is forming in spring.

Hi everyone, a wet day today so I'm in the greenhouse, the bacopa I've grown for my wife's baskets are doing well and are in bud at the moment, I'm just wondering if I can leave them in their current pots until the end of May, they do have an awful lot of roots in there?

Thanks Verdun, sadly my husband has a complete aversion to any conifers which is a shame as that would work well! The lithodora look lovely and will definitely include some bulbs. Thanks very much

Hey! Excellent. Enjoy your rum...have one for me

Thanks Harry. I always appreciate others opinions. I shall look at Sutton’s etc.

Always good to have options anyway. I can see the merits both ways I have come to appreciate plant associations in containers more these days....from a perspective previously of single subjects only. They can make a planting more attractive, interesting and help disguise a less than...

How about coleus has amazing folliage and no worry about timeing with flowering

Your most welcome

Ah! Agastaches are a favourite of mine mazambo....they are usually hardy down here. There are some tasty varieties esp the kudos varieties. Easy from cuttings too The secret is not to water them unless during a really dry spell. Treat em mean and they will flower all summer long. Actually I...

Love that planter! Looks fab!You haven't said what position the container is in (facing north, south, east or west), or what type of weather it will have to contend with (hot sun, wind, etc). This information is pretty important. Without it, no-one can suggest plants that would definitely be...

"...it still hasn't dried out on the surface, although from certain angles the surface of the soil in the pot appears green, so *something* must be growing!..."If the soil in the pot looks green, you're massively overwatering your poor Bay and causing algae to grow and thrive. Plus, the water...

I'm late to the party, but just wanted to add that if you go for bamboo, avoid the running types - go for the clumping types as these will be much happier in a container, and for much longer before they need a major root chop and replanting.Bamboos prefer shade (or part-shade at the very...

Thank you very much for your replies. I wrote to the Gardening Express and they assured me that it is normal to have plants looking like mine. But I do not agree that plants covered with lichen should be sold by Garden centres. At least they should warn their customers about such a possibility. ...

As Wee Tam , I lift and store my Begonia tubers in November. Rejecting any soft ones. I find on replanting indoors , mid March , about 75% will restart.

I would stay away from putting any water retaining gel in any compost as it has been shown that the gels, manufactured as polymers, are biodegradable. They are not a long-term solution to water management. Their breakdown can release potentially damaging by-products into your soil. Regards sandy

The worst pots are those with the sort of fruit mouldings around the top. The soil gets into the mould and makes thing really difficult.