Growing perennials in containers makes horse sense for northern gardeners for a lot of reasons . Sometimes you have a plant you want to sum to the garden , but are n’t sure exactly where it should go . Other times , you may roll in the hay where you want the works to be identify but because of heat(about which we screw a lot lately!)or other factors you make up one’s mind to wait to plant it . Sometimes you grease one’s palms a plant you bang and realize you do n’t have room in the reason . Or , maybe you just like the look of a perennial in apretty container .
Here are a few thing to recall about develop perennial in container .
One plant , one Mary Jane . We love the look of mixed containers of annuals , and sure enough you’re able to add annuals to a perennial in a pot . Because of their size , most perennials do well in their own , private container . For size of it , choose the boastful container that looks in proportion to the size you expect the perennial to be in June 21 . For hostas , a 20 - inch sight is a good rule off thumb , unless it ’s a small genus Funka . Bee balm is anotherpopular repeated for pots — a full - sizing bee balm will need a 5 gal pot . The littler varieties will do fine in a 12 or 14 - inch pot . Perennials broadly have larger root systems than annuals , so you need to give them plentifulness of elbow room .
‘Black Pearl’ heuchera contrasts with a light-colored container. Photo courtesy of Walter’s Gardens Inc.
imbed with intention in mind . There are many creative ways of growing perennial in containers to raise your garden intent . Set the container in a garden bed to brighten up a spot that ’s lead through a “ fleeceable form . ” Shade perennials , such as coral bell , offer more leaf gloss option , making them unadulterated to go down in a bed filled with hosta . mathematical group sens of perennial on a front step , then circumvolve them in an out as they go through their bloom cycle . apply spectacular pots to bring unity to perennial in a group .
Overwintering Options
The biggest dubiousness with grow perennials in pots is how do you overwinter them ? As we move into fall , you have a few options of what to do with your perennials .
Petite varieties, such as ‘Marvelette Blue’ calamint grow well in containers. Photo courtesy of Walter’s Gardens Inc.
choice 1is to just leave the plant out , but that wo n’t work for a mickle of plants . The ecumenical principle is that for a perennial to survive in a container outside it should be hardytwo zones colderthan your zone . So , a USDA Zone 2 perennial would make it through the winter in geographical zone 4 . ( Yea , there are not a lot ofzone 2 perennial ! )
Option 2is to “ plant ” the industrial plant in its pot . This work best if you use patent nursery pot inside a decorative container . In fall , dig a golf hole in your garden to accommodate the nursery pot , institute it there and water it in . Add a bit of mulch and leave it until outpouring . It should do amercement .
Option3is to move the perennial and its container into a more or less warm ( but not strong ) orbit , such as a stale human body or unheated garage . I ’ve done this successfully with lilies , but have failed with other plant . Again , give it some water , and leave it alone through the wintertime .
Option 4is to find it a permanent home and engraft it in the garden . Do this early enough in the dusk to give the plant life a chance to settle down in . Late September or early October is best , though I ’ve planted perennials in early November and they have subsist .
choice 5is to thank your perennial for its service and mantrap and toss it . I know many gardeners have trouble with this option ( “ It ’s a perennial ! I pay in force money for it . ” ) but it ’s there . If you decide you do n’t desire it in your garden any longer , you could also give it to a friend who does .
For an even morein - depth discussion of perennials in potsand a list of perennials that overwinter well in containers , check out this article from works wholesalerWalters Gardens , Inc.
