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Hardy/perennial baskets & Tubs?

• Message 1. 

  Posted by dannyson (U7870976) on Thursday, 5th August 2010

  I'm fed up with annual basket and tub displays- including the hassle of replacing spring bulbs in them.... (and want to save time) and wonder what others use to give year round interest but more importantly to be at their best in mid July when I open for the NGS.
  
  I'm not talking about Ivy / cyclamen / pansys or the usual....or any such like - which I'm not interested in. I'm trying to aim for a July Bonanza. Now I realise that this may not be possible and am experimenting with a number of larger alpine jobbys - to see how they settle in and over winter - so I've already taken the big step by disposing of all the annuals in my many tubs and planted up with alpines ..... but this may look too feeble!?
  
  Any thoughts? - what worked well for you please?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by GreenThumbelina (U11069038) on Friday, 6th August 2010

  Oh I agree dannyson - I am fed up with all this fiddling about - I am more of a Let-Em-Get-On-With-it sort of gardener (aka lazy!)
  
  I am very partial to alpines - at the foot of my (lime green) cypress I have planted Vinca Minor Atropurpurea which gives a lovely colour contrast when in (purple) flower.
  
  I was also have silvery grey Cineraria maritime/ Senecio cineraria which I occasionally hack back and it still survives - the dark pink Diamond Dianthus looks good with it and appeared to my surprise a few weeks ago - I thought it was an annual.
  
  I have a few lilies in smallish pots and I hide them amongst bigger containers when they are looking their best ...then put them out of sight again when they look tatty.
  
  One of my fave containers contains skimmia, a red dogwood and fern. It looks stunning in the middle of winter but it is very green and lush in the middle of summer too.
  
  I also have a couple of evergreen standards - one rose and one leptospermum ....
  
  Hope that gives a few ideas.....
  ATB

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Toadspawn (U2334298) on Friday, 6th August 2010

  A collection of Sempervivums work well together in a large pot and they are there all year round.
  
  I also have a tub with Hosta, variegated ivy and a short variegated bamboo which looks good for a long time. Unfortunately the bamboo is one of the invasive ones so it is begining to take over but all the plants (except the ivy) die down in the winter.
  Hostas look good in large pots and in addition to the foliage there is the bonus of flowers but again they die down in the winter.
  What about some dwarf evergreen shrubs, they do look effective all year round.
  Ferns, because there are so many frond shapes, sizes and colours are great in shady areas, and they will grow happily in pots or tubs but again unfortunately they mostly die back in the winter.
  
  All the above would be fine for an NGS open garden in July/August.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by abbotsmillmo (U13936954) on Saturday, 7th August 2010

  Hi dannyson,
  What worked for me in hanging baskets were Heucheras. I planted up 2 , two years ago with these one in each basket with similar coloured pansies. They are still worth the watering daily and soon I shall be able to take out the Heucheras and plant them in the garden. Mo.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by mister-grow-it-all (U14591945) on Thursday, 7th October 2010

  Succulent plants,can look good for a modern twist on the hanging basket

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