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Container Planting
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Posted by pos02 NSW Aust (My Page) on Sun, May 21, 06 at 19:10
| I think this may have been discussed some time in the past couple of years, but a quick search returned nothing. I want to put some large pot plants on the patio to give some privacy from next door. The plants should be 2 - 3m high, and able to live in a large pot (say 500 - 600mm diameter). The site is quite hot, as there is no shade in the afternoon (gets shade in the morning though). The plants should be reasonably dense, and spread to at least 1m. We don't get any frost, but other than that the site is quite exposed. Does anyone have any ideas? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Container Planting
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| Posting on this forum, we presume you want a native plant. It's hard to think of any species that quite matches your specification and will stay healthy under those conditions. One possibility is Syzygium luehmannii, though it would not take too much neglect in tems of watering and fertilizing. |
RE: Container Planting
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What about a cypress, Callitris species? They're good and bushy, have a tall profile, and grow fairly fast. I'd imagine they might be kept at a suitable size for ten to 20 years, but have no actual experience of them as a pot plant. The ones in my yard are nice, well-shaped things with foliage very dense to ground level. They'll eventually get to be rather open, with a single trunk and a good profile on the skyline but they're hanging in there very well as a bushy screen at present. I gave them a haircut once or twice when they were young.
Trish
Trish |
RE: Container Planting
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| Yes I too would be looking at the various Syzygiums, you could try different foliage colours for a layered look. Keep them clipped to make them bushy but, as Tom says, you can't neglect them. Try putting them in well sealed pots and mulch with a moisture retentive material such as lucerne. If you think they might suffer from windburn, spray them before it happens with Yates Stressguard. |
RE: Container Planting
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- Posted by pos02 NSW Aust (My Page) on
Mon, May 22, 06 at 18:58
| Thanks for the suggestions. I have tried syzygium and acmena here, and they have been struggling for about 3 years. They do OK until the middle of summer, where most of the new growth gets burnt off. The 46C we had on New Year's Day nearly killed them, and made me question whether they are the best choice there (and I wasn't around to save them). I have since moved them to a shadier spot, and they have never looked better. For that reason I was thinking Leptospermum, Acacia or Grevillea, but I don't know how they will go in pots. |
RE: Container Planting
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- Posted by aeor nsw (My Page) on
Tue, May 23, 06 at 3:37
I think you're right about the syzygium and acmena. I've had the same experience in a similar spot.
If it was me I'd try an acacia. As far as I know they do well in pots. I have a couple but are still only about 1- 1.5 meters high, and were destined for the garden. What about a wollemi pine?! Though the sun may knock it around too when it's young.
A |
RE: Container Planting
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| I've grown any number of natives in pots (our old house was all pots because it was rental). You can grow gum trees, richea, nothofagus, eremophila, ficus, crowea, westringia, prostanthera, citrus etc. Just pick something you like and tip prune it into shape. The CSIRO native citrus hybrids are nice - my blood lime (kangaroo poo lime) is just fruiting now. |
RE: Container Planting
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| for me i think the best possibilities are going to be the palms? ie.,. 'golden canes' they will handle pots and get tallish and bushy if you get one's that clump well. even a good 'kentia' or 2 they get quiet a showy top on them that should give some screening, other palms to consider are: 'macarthur's', 'bangalow's', 'alexanders'. in a large tub the 'ficus' should do well ie 'benjamina' or maybe a 'moreton bay fig spec's'. maybe even erect a bit of a trellis and grow an ever green vine? len |
Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page
RE: Container Planting
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| If you have big pots, install a dripper system with multiple dripers per pot. If you have made the big investment in time and materials for your plants, you should provide reliable water too. They won't use much. |
RE: Container Planting
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- Posted by pos02 NSW Aust (My Page) on
Wed, May 24, 06 at 19:24
| I like the idea of the citrus hybrids. They look quite interesting and unique. Perhaps I will see if I can get some of those as a start. The figs might be worth looking into also. Thanks for your advice. |
RE: Container Planting
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| How about Kunzea ambigua? See the link below Cheers,
Frank |
Here is a link that might be useful: Kunzea ambigua
RE: Container Planting
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| If it is afternoon sun then I guess you have a westerly aspect. On exposed patios in a situation like that, plants are going to get a hell of a beating. I would suggest hardier stuff like Banksia ericifolia, B. integrifolia, any of the Westringias, Ficus benjamina. If it was me I would be considering the largest pots possible with the most advanced plants you can afford. Bamboo might also be a possiblity. |
RE: Container Planting
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| I've never seen any of the dwarf Melaleuca/Leptospermum varieties in pots, but they are one plant that can take the heat. They also respond well to pruning - I've planted these in several of the 'trouble' spots in my yard, and nothing seems to upset them. Ask at your local nursery whether they are suited to pots - I dont mess around with too many containers, I'm afraid. |
RE: Container Planting
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why dont you try NSW christmas bush,sure it looks like your growing a prohibited narcotic
(well my mates thought i was)
for most of the year,but will handle pots very well,loves westerley situations,dosent mind the heat and can be cheap enough when not in flower sure its safe but its easy and you can find advanced specimens at most garden centres my $2.20 worth wazcrazy |
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