A touch of formality is not out of place in most gardens, and precisely trimmed cones and spheres of foliage — classic forms of topiary — are especially suited to containers. All that’s required is a beautiful container, a plant amenable to frequent pruning and patience. There are myriad ways to incorporate a potted topiary into your landscape. Try an elegant container with … [Read more...] about How to make an elegant topiary
geranium
8 plants for dry and shady gardens
Dry and shady gardens: a double whammy Most gardeners would agree that gardening in full shade presents certain difficulties, and I dare say that all would agree that gardening in dry, compacted soil is an even greater challenge; but combine the two, and you have a serious gardening hardship. Dry shade is almost always the result of mature trees with roots that run close to … [Read more...] about 8 plants for dry and shady gardens
6 container plants looking good in the heat
Every year about this time, I take a close look at the plants in the pots, containers and hanging baskets in our garden to see what’s doing well, what’s flagging and what’s ho-hum. There are favourites I include every year, but I always trial a few new varieties, some of which are new to the market or older varieties I’ve never tried before. It’s important that container … [Read more...] about 6 container plants looking good in the heat
Ivy geraniums for containers
Plants that offer both attractive flowers and foliage are the first to go into my nursery shopping cart. Ivy geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum), tender perennials native to southern Africa, never disappoint in this regard. Their semi-cascading, trailing habit is always attractive, and I enjoy their surprising differences in style and flower form, and crisp, ivy-like … [Read more...] about Ivy geraniums for containers
Periwinkle: too much of a good thing
These autumn weeks of outdoor housekeeping tell the tale of seasonal progress — a few plants haven’t grown much, or worse, have declined from environmental stress or from competition for light with larger neighbours. But mostly I’m confronted with rampant growth, the end result of consistent cultivation on home ground. There are some weeks of heavy wood pruning ahead, but that … [Read more...] about Periwinkle: too much of a good thing
