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<h4>You're browser does not support iFrames - here is an exerpt of the content</h4> <a href="http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/gardening/top-ten-tips-for-growing-in-pots/">Click here to read the article in full</a> <p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Sedum bootimus" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hortoris/4348332485/"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4348332485_40af32a370.jpg" alt="Sedum bootimus-" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"> <h2 style="text-align: left;">Ten Tips for Growing in Pots and <a title="Containers" href="http://gardenersvoice.com/category/containers/">Containers</a></h2> <ol> <li>Terracotta is a sympathetic choice for containers in your garden. They are also porous and let in air and allow plant roots to cool through evaporation.</li> <li>Try several pots of the same size and or shape in a group (I like ‘long tom’ pots). Planted with Agrostis Cloud grass will create a real impact.</li> <li>Exotics like Banana plants look shapely and they can be moved, pot and all into shelter or wrapped for winter protection.</li> <li>Keep a sense of balance between the needs of your container plants. They need water, food and light but not an excess of any one feature. The pot is a micro environment that needs regular care such as watering / drainage, fertilizer and shelter.</li> <li>Trailing plants will benefit from a bit of training in the right direction. Pinch out rampant plants and those you want to branch. Pick off faded flowers.</li> <li>Constant watering can wash out nutrients so give a weekly liquid feed.</li> <li>Mix plants of different colours, textures, habits and heights. Variegated plants and scented plants often work well.</li> <li>Locate the pot carefully as the aesthetic of the base and pot combination can be important. A gravel or coloured chipping base can be very effective.</li> <li>Do not be too conventional with the container. In addition to the old <a title="gardeners" href="http://gardenersvoice.com/category/gardeners/">gardeners</a> boot (above) I have seen a wheel barrow planted with <a title="courgettes" href="http://gardenersvoice.com/category/courgettes/">courgettes</a> and fire buckets (with holes) used for displays. Use your artistic skills like many container on the top of barges that are brightly painted.</li> <li>Choose appropriate plants. Below is a second top ten of plants you may want to try in pots.</li> </ol> <h2><strong>Top Ten Plants for Outdoor Pots</strong></h2> <ol> <li>Clematis cartmanii ‘Joe’ is a white, spring flowering trailer that can be tied to an upright. Try it with blue Crocus or Muscari.</li> <p><span id="more-6159"></span></p> <li>Helichrysum are grown for their small coloured leaf and trailing habit. Choose from Helichrysum petiolare Limelight or Helichrysum microphyllum small grey leaves.</li> <li>Petunia used to be a favourite but now I grow Million Bells sold under the genus name Calibrachoa. Exceptionally colourful and easy to maintain.</li> <li>Skimmia japonica Rubella can give year round interest and a pot makes it easier to provide the right soil conditions.</li> <li>Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ is another plant to provide year round interest.</li> <li>Hostas make good pot plants because we think the pot protects them from slugs and snails but beware they can climb!</li> <li>Pennisetum setaceum Rubrum or Purple Fountain Grass can be a show stopper but there are also <a href="http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/tips/growing-pots-of-grass/">many others</a> grasses to chose from.</li> <li>Impatiens can be too sugary for my taste but Fiesta White is a gorgeous Busy Lizzie lighting up a shady area.</li> <li>Agave americana variegata in a deep red pot can bring an exotic and sunny feel to your patio.</li> <li>The last choice is <strong>‘What ever works for you’</strong> but why grow in pots what grows well in the garden so I advocate something, exciting, experimental, exotic or entertaining.</li> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hortoris/3659527456/" title="Pots for potting "><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3649/3659527456_a5986864d0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Pots for potting" /></a> </ol> <div style="display: none">VN:F [1.6.3_896]</div><div class="ratingblock"><div class="ratingblock "><div class="ratingheader ">Rate this Article</div><div class="ratingstars "><div id="article_rater_29912" class="ratepost gdsr-soft gdsr-size-24"><div class="starsbar gdsr-size-24"><div class="gdouter gdheight"><div id="gdr_vote_a29912" style="width: 0px;" class="gdinner gdheight"></div><div id="gdr_stars_a29912" class="gdsr_rating_as"><a id="gdsrX29912X5X0XaXarticle_rater_29912Xarticle_loader_29912X10X24" title="5 / 5" class="s5" rel="nofollow"></a><a id="gdsrX29912X4X0XaXarticle_rater_29912Xarticle_loader_29912X10X24" title="4 / 5" class="s4" rel="nofollow"></a><a id="gdsrX29912X3X0XaXarticle_rater_29912Xarticle_loader_29912X10X24" title="3 / 5" class="s3" rel="nofollow"></a><a id="gdsrX29912X2X0XaXarticle_rater_29912Xarticle_loader_29912X10X24" title="2 / 5" class="s2" rel="nofollow"></a><a id="gdsrX29912X1X0XaXarticle_rater_29912Xarticle_loader_29912X10X24" title="1 / 5" class="s1" rel="nofollow"></a></div></div></div></div><div id="article_loader_29912" style="display: none; width: 120px; " class="ratingloader article"><div class="loader flower " style="height: 24px"><div class="loaderinner" style="padding-top: 2px">please wait...</div></div></div></div><div class="ratingtext "><div id="gdr_text_a29912">Rating: 0.0/<strong>5</strong> (0 votes cast)</div></div></div></div>
