Front Garden Tubs/Pots

Hi Dawnsaunt...One plant I would recommend, is a fucshia called Mrs Pobbles (spl?) It is a hardy plant, and will do well in pots or in the ground. I have them outside the front of my house. I trim them every year, as it can get very big and woody. Good luck....Also, if you have a shadey area, you can grow a plant called Houttuynie. It has a small white flower, but it's not the flower that's attractive, but its leaves, because they are multi coloured. The comon name for this plant is the "chameleon" plant ... All the best.........

Thanks Louis, the fuschia sounds great. I forgot to say that the front of the house gets full sun from about lunchtime so I dont know if the Houttuynie would be happy. I'll look at Mrs Pobbles, thank you, Dawn

Hi Dawnsaunt - I think acers of all kinds look great in big pots & hostas if you have a shady bit.They tend to get less slug attention in pots too.

Don't know what your fave colour is but blue pots make a great impact & groups of different size pots look good too.
Have fun! :0)

Thanks Fluff. I do like acers, that's a good idea and I like the big leaved hostas but maybe its too sunny in this area. I was thinking a cluster of pots could look good and maybe blue would be a good contrast, I hadnt thought of blue, thanks

I have agapanthus in a large pot. it does well. lilies will be ok for several years too. I layer bulbs for different height/seasons too. ivy can very ornamental. you could put an obelisk in and have clematis in the back pot with smaller pots infront providing the shade for the roots.
but just remember all the watering you will have to do unless you set up an irrigation system.

Thanks Seaburn, good ideas there.
I know what you mean about the watering, something to bear in mind, all year.

If you say you like pots , then try big pots and medium size of various kinds with mutiple plants.I've seen container plants that are very beautiful in an entrance patio area.

If your front garden gets a lot of sun you may find its easier to clear away some gravel and plant directly into the ground - it will save you an awful lot of watering, and increase the number of plants you can grow. I grow redcurrants in my front garden - for the birds not for me, though I usually get a few. The birds seem to appreciate their share, and its quite a pretty bush.

as you have gravel , how about various grasses planted directly into the ground. this would give you hieght and shape , and easy maintenance..................steve

Thanks, Rhodea, Maewyn and Steve.
Under the gravel is a deep layer of hardcore which we had to give the drive a good solid base. I suppose we could dig down but I think I would rather use pots, although I know the watering will be a pain. I think Rhodea's idea of really big pots and medium ones would look good. This is a sizeable area so I will need a few decent sized ones or there will be just no impact.

Hi Dawnsaunt... i think i would go for something practical as well as attractive.... all year round interest so as to get the best out of what you are doing... you can always bump up the colour with your hanging baskets and a few annuals in smaller pots... i have a crazy paved front garden, which is like a sun trap... so things that don't need much watering is a bonus.... i would go for large succulents eg Agave, and sub tropicals such as Yucca, Mexican Yucca, Corderline, there are some really stunning colours just in the leaves alone, you will need to check the hardiness of them when buying you will find that most do have varietie that are fine outside all year round, as long as your garden is not too exposed, which looks ok from the picture,... you could also add in things like Phormium, Heuchera, Echeveria, house leek for close up interest... and then for summer Gerbera in pots bright coloured fancy leaved geraniums, i think this look would really suit your style of house... and would be easy to keep... less watering.. which can be a pain...

I'm with Majeekahead - I'd use tropical stuff like palms (Trachycarpus fortunei, Chaemarops humilis), Cordyline, Phormium, Fatsia if you can put it behind the Phormiums for a bit of shade, Bamboos (Phyllostachys nigra, Fargesia), all in big pots, with slightly smaller containers for flowering stuff. Containers are key - decide what kind you want and then stick to that, just in different sizes and remember, the bigger the container, the more successful the planting, and the less watering. Hope you've got a hose that will reach easily to the front....

Well Dawnsaunt, thought I'd put my two pennorth in after all ... I have two large spotted laurels in very big pots, one of them looked a bit sickly this year until I repotted it into a larger pot thanks to advice from GoYers and it's now perked up. They're lovely and give interest all year round. I also have a beautiful japanese azalea which never fails to impress every spring with its bright pink flowers, and it requires hardly any attention other than a spot of water in dry weather. Then there is my balloon flower of course! I also have geraniums, snap dragons, busy lizzies and such in smaller pots for spots of colour, and million bells in hanging baskets, and petunias etc in troughs here and there. I also love french marigolds which I have at the side of my drive but I think they would be okay in pots too and would brighten up any area no end. Really, if you're prepared for the watering, you could have some fantastic displays of groups of pots that I'm sure you'd really enjoy experimenting with. Good luck and don't forget to post some photos!

Majeekahead, Bamboo and Jan. Thank you soooo much for your advice - really appreciate this. I have lots of research to do following your suggestions. I do live in a bit of a frost pocket so I will bear that in mind. Thanks again, Dawn

Hi Dawn :))
I think very large pots with attractive shrubs and/or small trees would look great.

I found it quite difficult sourcing very large pots.
I went looking for pots that were 2-3 feet in diameter and they weren't that easy to find.

If cost's not prohibitive the sky's your limit and you can do brilliant things :)

Hi Louise, I think you're right, nice attractive shrubs or small trees would look great, I'm going to get planning. Thanks

Yes Dawnsaunt, you can still have the Houttuynie plant, as long as you keep the soil moist...... Good luck

Very large pots - Instore do them as long as you don't mind plastic. They were two for £7 when I bought mine. Bargain! Never having a lot of cash to spare, I'd rather buy cheap pots and spend my money on the flowers.

Hi Dawn, forgot to say, that if you look at my pictures, you can see my Houttuynie.....

Hi Louis, yes, just checked it out - beautiful, looks so healthy, thanks

Hi Dawn, I just had to add to the above suggestions because i have a fig in a large pot and although it is not evergreen, it has fabulous leaves in the summer - and also produces fruit! looking at your house, i would think it would look great behind smaller pots of anything you fancy. Even in winter, the bare branches look great - quite architectural.
Good luck with your planting. You're going to have a good time!

I would just add that if you are considering acers, they actually like dappled shade. In their natural state they tend to grow under taller trees. I only mention it because your sunny front garden might cause them to shrivel as mine did before I was aware of the need for shade.

Yes Pennyfarthing is right, they are quite fussy, if you live in a frost pocket proberly not a good option for you... also they need protection from wind and early morning spring sun... you do have lots of really good saggestions though... i am sure you will be able to find something that is just right :o)

Hi Merlin, PennyF and Majeek: Thanks again, shame about the acers as was considering them. My husband has now said he would be prepared to create me a couple of L- shaped raised beds from railway sleepers. It would mean bringing top soil in but I think the sleepers would look good against the gravel. I can of course still set your suggested plants. What do you think?

That sounds fabulous, go for it!

Thanks Jan :-)

Even better Dawnsaunt, less watering, and more room for more plants :D

Pleased you think this is a good idea Majeek :-)

oh yes i do.... lots more work involed to set up but well worth all the extra effort... you could even incorproate a water feature of some kind.... just a thought...

Cant wait to see husband's face when I suggest the water feature idea, ha ha.

LIke you say, more work initially but it should pay off in the long run.

definately ;-) .... and i am sure you will be able to persuide hubby...

We'll see ......