Greetings all from Zone 7 Maryland where the temperature zooms from 10 to 70 degrees
in two days.

Several questions here..... I want/like/need start using shrubs in containers. Have
quite a selection, some arborvitaie, 'Emerald', 'Beckman's Gold - a globe
arborvitae', several 36" Leylands, a bunch of Encore Azaleas, some tree Roses,
and some multi blossom Rose Bushes.

So far a lot of the container plants purchased from the store fail within the first
year.... which suggests that there probably are a lot more factors in play....

Can anyone suggest some really good books and / or web resources dealing
with container gardening, not only flowers and veggies but also shrubs ?? I'd
like to get a 'bible' or single source for all the information, instead of having to
research different books and deal with different, and occasionally conflicting advice.

Common sense could answer some of the questions, but I wonder if there are recommended
ratios between plant type and container size. I know type of soil used is important
and need to start measuring ph. But what about moisture measurements, soil temperature
measurements. The probe type moisture meters are pretty useless and temperature will
build up in a container plant, instead of being wicked away when plant in the ground.

Also this is a temperate climate, with wide temperature swings.... how to effectively
winterize the pots... should I be pulling tubers and bulbs at the end of the season i.e.
peonies and cannas or just store the entire pot.

So those are a few of the questions that a good book/resource should answer.

I do have several large pots and purchased a bunch of 5 gal buckets from Home
Depot for $3.00 each... they will make nice planting containers and can either
be painted or stuck instead a large decorative container. What I'd like to do is
move the container plants around the landscape for decoration purpose and to
get an idea of how they will look when planted in different configurations.

Your suggestions and recommendations are appreciated... What books and
resources have you found invaluable for container gardening ??

Thanks in advance !!

Peter

In article ,
wrote:

Greetings all from Zone 7 Maryland where the temperature zooms from 10
to 70 degrees
in two days.

Several questions here..... I want/like/need start using shrubs in
containers. Have
quite a selection, some arborvitaie, 'Emerald', 'Beckman's Gold - a
globe
arborvitae', several 36" Leylands, a bunch of Encore Azaleas, some tree
Roses,
and some multi blossom Rose Bushes.

So far a lot of the container plants purchased from the store fail within the
first
year.... which suggests that there probably are a lot more factors in
play....

Can anyone suggest some really good books and / or web resources dealing
with container gardening, not only flowers and veggies but also shrubs ??
I'd
like to get a 'bible' or single source for all the information, instead of
having to
research different books and deal with different, and occasionally
conflicting advice.

Common sense could answer some of the questions, but I wonder if there are
recommended
ratios between plant type and container size. I know type of soil used is
important
and need to start measuring ph. But what about moisture measurements,
soil temperature
measurements. The probe type moisture meters are pretty useless and
temperature will
build up in a container plant, instead of being wicked away when plant in
the ground.

Also this is a temperate climate, with wide temperature swings.... how to
effectively
winterize the pots... should I be pulling tubers and bulbs at the end of the
season i.e.
peonies and cannas or just store the entire pot.

So those are a few of the questions that a good book/resource should answer.


I do have several large pots and purchased a bunch of 5 gal buckets from
Home
Depot for $3.00 each... they will make nice planting containers and can
either
be painted or stuck instead a large decorative container. What I'd like
to do is
move the container plants around the landscape for decoration purpose and to
get an idea of how they will look when planted in different configurations.

Your suggestions and recommendations are appreciated... What books and
resources have you found invaluable for container gardening ??

Thanks in advance !!

Peter

The larger the pot the more mistakes you can make. Smaller the more
minor mistakes matter.

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

No plants
survive ten degrees in a container that I know of in the general plant
trade. Maybe there are some Alpine plants, but they are very
specialized.

I've noticed that one person in my neighbourhood successfully overwintered
hostas in containers last year, just left out for the winter, and the air
temperatures here in winter sometimes go down to -40C. So hostas seem to be
very cold hardy! (I'm trying it myself this year. I sure hope it works.)

On Mar 8, 8:27*am, "Andrew Ostrander" wrote:
No plants
survive ten degrees in a container that I know of in the general plant
trade. *Maybe there are some Alpine plants, but they are very
specialized.

I've noticed that one person in my neighbourhood successfully overwintered
hostas in containers last year, just left out for the winter, and the air
temperatures here in winter sometimes go down to -40C. *So hostas seem to be
very cold hardy! (I'm trying it myself this year. *I sure hope it works..)

Just out of curiousity, how big were the containers? In the past,
I've been told that in order to successfully overwinter in containers
(zone 3a), the container should be a minimum of 3x3x3 feet. Sometimes
people here will put foam insulation inside the outside edge as well.
Storage in a garage or cool storage area is also an option.

As for the OP, different plants have different cultural requirements,
and gardening advice also tends to be regionally specific as well, so
no one book is going to tell you everything. You might consider
taking a workshop or class or join a horticultural club. Perhaps stick
to annuals in containers for now.
Dora

On Sun, 8 Mar 2009 08:52:58 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

On Mar 8, 8:27*am, "Andrew Ostrander" wrote:
No plants
survive ten degrees in a container that I know of in the general plant
trade. *Maybe there are some Alpine plants, but they are very
specialized.

I've noticed that one person in my neighbourhood successfully overwintered
hostas in containers last year, just left out for the winter, and the air
temperatures here in winter sometimes go down to -40C. *So hostas seem to be
very cold hardy! (I'm trying it myself this year. *I sure hope it works.)

Just out of curiousity, how big were the containers? In the past,
I've been told that in order to successfully overwinter in containers

Containers ranged from 1 gal to 3 gal. What I now know
(thanks to jangchub) is that the frigid temps probably killed
off the root structure..... This is zone 7 Maryland where 0 to 10
degrees occurs during Jan and Feb.

I guess it's time to see ground temperatures in a different light.




(zone 3a), the container should be a minimum of 3x3x3 feet. Sometimes
people here will put foam insulation inside the outside edge as well.
Storage in a garage or cool storage area is also an option.

As for the OP, different plants have different cultural requirements,
and gardening advice also tends to be regionally specific as well, so
no one book is going to tell you everything. You might consider
taking a workshop or class or join a horticultural club. Perhaps stick
to annuals in containers for now.

Good idea... the workshops.... unfortunately the few that I've
been to all were open Q&A sessions about what type of plants
and what type of landscape designs. Not one ever taught a lot
the basics of gardening,,,,

Annual flowers grow annually.... I have plenty of those.... however there
are areas that I want to see how different landscape designs might work, and
so container plants would help me plan these areas.

Also, I never met a plant that I didn't like.... and would like to grow more of a
variety.....

This ng is a fantastic source of information for which I'm grateful... plenty
of knowledgable people here willing to share their experience for which I'm
grateful....

Peter





Dora

In article ,
wrote:

Think of me as being the village idiot.... it never hurts to ask. The quality
of the answer often depends upon the quality of the question.

Albert E said once you say you know you stop thinking about it. I'd say
it also freezes you in time as best practice seems to continue to
evolve.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/m...plant_s_eye_vi
ew.html

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

wrote in message
...

I've noticed that one person in my neighbourhood successfully
overwintered
hostas in containers last year, just left out for the winter, and the air
temperatures here in winter sometimes go down to -40C. So hostas seem to
be
very cold hardy! (I'm trying it myself this year. I sure hope it works.)

Just out of curiousity, how big were the containers? In the past,
I've been told that in order to successfully overwinter in containers
(zone 3a), the container should be a minimum of 3x3x3 feet. Sometimes
people here will put foam insulation inside the outside edge as well.
Storage in a garage or cool storage area is also an option.

The containers were concrete cylinders, about 2 feet in diameter and 18
inches tall. They were covered with decorative stones on the outside.

He had cedars in them the previous winter, and they died in spring, a
situation I've seen before. He dug his hostas out last summer, so I won't
be able to see if they survive a second winter . This is in Winnipeg,
and I think it's Zone 3.

On Mar 9, 3:54*pm, "Andrew Ostrander" wrote:
wrote in message

...



I've noticed that one person in my neighbourhood successfully
overwintered
hostas in containers last year, just left out for the winter, and the air
temperatures here in winter sometimes go down to -40C. So hostas seem to
be
very cold hardy! (I'm trying it myself this year. I sure hope it works..)
Just out of curiousity, how big were the containers? *In the past,
I've been told that in order to successfully overwinter in containers
(zone 3a), the container should be a minimum of 3x3x3 feet. *Sometimes
people here will put foam insulation inside the outside edge as well.
Storage in a garage or cool storage area is also an option.

The containers were concrete cylinders, about 2 feet in diameter and 18
inches tall. *They were covered with decorative stones on the outside.

He had cedars in them the previous winter, and they died in spring, a
situation I've seen before. *He dug his hostas out last summer, so I won't
be able to see if they survive a second winter *. *This is in Winnipeg,
and I think it's Zone 3.

I'm in Calgary. I thought hostas were about a zone 4, so I'm
surprised they would survive. I wonder if the concrete insulated them
somewhat. Well shows you never know.
Now that the housing market has tanked, I can afford an apartment
condo, so I might be making a return to container gardening 8( . But
I'll have more storage 8)
Dora