What are the best containers for long term plants and shrubs?

Where do you live? That will make a difference in determining what plants will survive long term in containers....

Use plastic pots to grow in and if you don't like the look of them drop the plastic one into a decorative pot. This also lets you switch them more easily when they start to fade or die off as annuals will do.

Large plastic pots or decorate some round plastic trash cans

with plenty of drainage. Put some gravel in the bottom. You will have to water more often. My hostsa have been in pots for 8 years And they come back every year.

Yes,make sure all containers have drainage holes,and are large enough for what you would like to plant.You may have to re-pot them if they get to big.Try using dwarf varieties for your shrubs.

I like the big fake whiskey barrels in plastic. I bought a bunch in Costco years ago for about $15/each, and they're still fine. I just bought two more.

I have clematis (the whiskey barrel is large enough for a 6 ft. metal wire trellis), a smoke bush (Young Lady, it's about 3 ft. tall now), re-blooming daylilies, hosta and ferns, sprinkled around my patio and front entry. There are small lilacs available, but butterfly bushes bloom longer (and in the summer, when you'll be sitting outside) and there are many small ones now. Just do a search (Lo and Behold, and Blue Chip are two I can think of). There are also small Rose of Sharon (hibiscus) you could grow.

I would plant annual flowers if I was combining with vegetables, because annuals don't have such big roots. I have two kinds of tomatoes growing now, one called "Patio" and another of cherry tomatoes. Don't forget to use Miracle Gro!

I also don't change the soil each year. I take a bit out and add fresh, or if the soil has become impacted and the soil level is low, I add more, and mix it up a bit. So far, so good. But we have a long dormant season here--if you're somewhere it doesn't freeze, you might have to change the soil more.

awesone feedback

thank u

You will likely not be able to have shrubs in planters unless a) you can bring them inside for the winter, or b) you make them really big and have them placed in a sheltered location...even perennials in planters will be tricky to winter over as generally speaking your soil will nor be deep enough to avoid freezing the roots. Having said that, this past winter I was able to winter over creeping Jenny in it's container (small round container approx 20" tall, 10" diameter). I will plant perennials in pots then winter them over by planting them in the ground (octoberish) and transplanting back to the pots in the spring. My suggestion is to search out planters that appeal to you (different colours, textures, shapes) and place where you want in your garden. In the spring, plant the pots with annuals of different heights, leaf colour and something that trails. If you don't like the atrangement one year, you can always switch it up the next year. Smaller pots can be planted by sprinkling seeds on the soil. You can also save money on annuals by gathering your own seed for planting the next year. Tomato, cucumber, peppers, lettuce, herbs can all be planted in containers quite successfully. Hope this helps!