For the Puslinch Pioneer
By Elizabeth Steggles
Question: In early spring I am anxious to have a flower container by front door. Can you give me some ideas please?
Image: Spring Planters
Here’s an idea for about the time of the thaw and before the garden has woken from its winter sleep. It takes advantage of plants that will survive the odd frost.
Choose a container that has drainage holes and is at least 14” high and wide. It must be clean and preferably sterilized with a 10% bleach solution and then thoroughly rinsed.
Before filling the container with a good quality potting medium such as Miracle Gro Potting Mix, it is wise to cover the drainage holes with something that allows water to drain without washing away the potting medium e.g. ceramic pieces or wire mesh. After planting, the medium should be about 1” below to top of the container to allow for watering.
All the plants suggested prefer rich, consistently moist, well drained, sun to part shade conditions. All will grow in this zone 5 location and can withstand some frost but it is wise to harden off any that have come from a garden centre. There is a mix of perennial, annual, herbaceous and shrub plants with a variety of textures and heights. The colours suggested are analogous, warm shades of red, yellow and orange.
The plants suggested are:
Cornus sericea ‘Cardinal’ Red twig dogwood is grown in many gardens so, if you don’t have any, ask a friend or neighbour if you may cut some 3 – 4’ twigs that are bright red in colour. Push these into the middle of the container to provide height. An added bonus is that they will almost certainly take root and provide you with a new shrub that will look stunning all winter against white snow.
Salix discolor Pussy willow. Another potential, easy-to-find, “freebie” is pussy willow that may be cut when it has its familiar furry male catkins. They are also often available at farmers’ markets or florists. Cut these slightly shorter than the dogwood and place them around it. The texture and silver/grey colour of the male catkins will enhance the red of the dogwood and provide a foil for the other, more colourful plants.
Narcissus, Daffodil. Daffodils provide the “thriller” of this arrangement. Bulbs can be forced at home over the winter but easily purchased in a pot from a garden centre just before they flower. Plant the daffodils around the twigs at the same height they were in the pots.
Viola × wittrockiana, Pansies are treated as annuals in zone 5 and are cheap to buy. For analogous warm colours, use shades of yellow and orange. The pansies will act as a“filler” in the design.
Vinca minor Common Periwinkle is evergreen in zone 4 – 8. It is plentiful in many gardens so dig up a few clumps to provide the “spiller” that softens the edge of your pot. It is, however, invasive in Southern Ontario so destroy the plant after use.
As the container is only supposed to last a few weeks, maintenance is minimal. I hope you enjoy the early spring colour.