When I write about AndAllen garden, I normally talk about the main elements. I am remiss as I do not give enough focus to our little pot garden – which gives us a lot of pleasure.
I have been doing pot gardening for decades, mainly on our visits to N Ireland, where I kept one going for Jean, CPs mum. The great thing about pot gardening is that you get a double whammy- the beauty of the pot and the harmony with the plants.
As an element in its own right, there are a lot of advantages to pots. Great for small spaces, relatively cheap to establish, low maintenance, and a perfect way to involve children in this great activity. A wide range of plants flourish in pots – for years we kept a dwarf Acer going in Jeans garden, before transplanting it out to replace some diminishing redcurrents.
Here in GA, I have a cycle of plantings across the seasons. I always have one pot planted with tulip bulbs – these are treated here as annuals, get scavenged by squirrels but are a great reminder of home. Maybe 10 days of a stunning show and then done.
Our main effort is a late spring/full summer show of scarlet pelargonium ( geraniums). This reminds us of the many times we drove through villages in France on holidays where it seemed that every house had their own display. Deadhead them and they go on for ages!
In late summer, the geraniums make way to a planting of perennial late flowering plants – this year it is New York asters. When they are done, they will go into the perennial beds – flowering next year. Over winter the pots are restocked with pansies or viola- which were a favorite of my mum.
Every time I change out plants, I don’t change the compost, but just refresh the surface. Compost gets a total change every 12-18 months. As the pot display is cycled I don’t fertilize- just ensure adequate watering.
I have seen some spectacular pot displays covering a wide variety of planting. Tropical plants are a particular favorite – and if you have space you may be able to overwinter. This is something I am going to experiment with a bit more. I have also seen some stunning miniature rock gardens in pots – so you are only limited by your imagination!
