Hardy shrubs also look great in pots, are easy to care for and can be left outside all year round. Trees and shrubs such as maple, azalea and ornamental cherry also feel at home on the terrace in large pots with good soil.
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Hardy shrubs offer a whole range of advantages: Unlike exotic potted plants such as oleander or angel’s trumpet , they do not need a frost-free place to overwinter. Once potted, a hardy shrub will delight you every year with its flowers, beautiful growth or bright autumn colors. There is a large selection of shrubs, but you should generally give preference to slow-growing varieties. There is also a wide range of pots on offer: flat or tall? Terracotta or plastic? Not only the appearance, but also the weight plays a role: the larger the plant volume, the more the soil weighs, but also the pot itself.
The diameter of the pot can be determined by the crown of the tree. In any case, the new pot should be slightly larger than the root ball. To determine whether repotting is necessary, pull the plant out of its container. If more roots than soil are visible, the tree can be placed in a larger pot. If the maximum pot size has been reached, you can also replace some of the soil instead.
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| Hardy shrubs for container planting |
How do you properly water hardy shrubs in pots?
Since winter-hardy potted plants cannot draw water from the soil, they need to be watered regularly. In midsummer, you will therefore need to use the garden hose every day. But it shouldn’t be too wet either: during longer periods of rain, it is better to place the pots on small feet. This allows the excess water to drain away easily.
Water drainage is also important in the pot itself. If you add expanded clay or small pieces of clay to the bottom of the pot , these will regulate the water balance and ensure good permeability. Underplanting looks great, but it also takes away root space, nutrients and water from the woody plant in the pot. The more greenery and flowers there are in the pot, the more you will have to water and fertilize.
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| Hardy shrubs for container planting |
Hardy shrubs with decorative foliage
With their leaves they make up for what they lack in floral decoration. Sometimes they are mottled yellow, like the Pagoda Dogwood ‘Variegata’, sometimes they captivate the viewer with almost black leaves, like the weeping copper beech or the magically shimmering varieties of Japanese maple .
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| Hardy shrubs for container planting |
Hardy shrubs are chic and easy to care for in pots
Little work – lots of enjoyment: If you want to make your patio beautiful and easy to care for at the same time, winter-hardy shrubs are the right choice – especially if you plant the trees in water storage containers! This makes the main work in the pot garden easier: watering. If you add long-term fertilizer for potted and tub plants to the soil at the start of the season instead of liquid fertilizer, the maintenance work is reduced to a minimum.
How do you protect shrubs in pots in winter?
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| Hardy shrubs for container planting |
Woody plants in pots need special protection from frost. You can, for example, wrap the plant pots in bubble wrap. You should also place the pots on a Styrofoam plate. For evergreen plants such as boxwood or cherry laurel , cover the leaves with fleece to stop evaporation while the ground is frozen.
