This week: Container Gardening with Native Plants
Hello!
I’m working on a project for a client who wants to grow native plants in a large planter instead of a typical annual display. Her house is directly on the sidewalk—no front yard—and she wants insect and bird-friendly curb appeal. When it comes to container gardening with native plants, she has two big questions: What grows well in pots, and how will the plants survive the winter?
What Kinds of Native Plants Work Well in Containers?
First, the good news: Any compact native plant appropriate for your sun and water conditions can be grown in a pot. Generally, look for plants that grow around two feet tall and wide. Not only do you want the height of the plant to be suitable for the front porch or the window box, but you’ll also want to reduce the chances of a too-tall plant blowing over in the wind or flattening in heavy rain.
Saying “any compact plant will do” about native plants can be challenging because many grow quite tall. Cultivars to the rescue! A New England Aster or Purple Coneflower cultivar tends to be shorter than the 4-foot straight species and ditto for shrub cultivars. For example, there are petite native blueberry bush cultivars made especially for container gardening. And, some straight species natives are naturally shorter—think Wild Geraniums, Maidenhair Ferns, and Butterfly Weed. Even Blazing Star and Cardinal Flower can sneak into a pot!
But What About Overwintering?
Now, the bad news. If you keep perennials in containers through the winter, your plants and pots might not make it. In general, when you plant a perennial above ground, it becomes an annual unless it is at least two zones hardier than where you live. So, if you’re in Zone 6, look for plants hardy in Zone 4. Happily, there are plenty of native plants that can overwinter for people who live in Zones 5 and up.
But, even if the plant is appropriately zoned, it will still be subject to blustery winter conditions that can shorten its life. And remember, the freeze-thaw cycle may crack decorative ceramic and plastic pots.
Here are a few strategies for overwintering native plants in containers:
Save your plant and its container by popping the plant in the ground for the winter and storing the pot separately. If you have a veggie plot, overwinter your natives there.
Group your container gardens together in a sheltered location where they’ll still get water, like against a building. Mulch the top of the soil with a few inches of leaves to protect the plant's crown.
If you lack shelter, build your own. You can bury the potted plants in a big pile of leaves or surround them with straw bales—get creative.
Transfer your plants to fabric pots or reused nursery pots before overwintering to save fancy pots.
If you suffer a few overwintering casualties, just remember how fun it is to shop for plants!
Elsewhere:
Did you know you can grow black tea at home? Learn how in this article from Jessica Damiano.
Have a great week,
Julie