Shrubs for Planter

Teenrbee

We have a window in our sitting room that goes almost to ground level, we think there used to be a door there many moons ago.  We only have a small path between us and the lane outside.  As you can imagine we don't have much privacy and have resorted to net curtains which I absolutely hate.  Anyway I have now decided that a wooden planter 1m long placed outside the window might solve the problem.  Does anyone have any suggestions for evergreen shrubs/hedging plants that might provide a year round screen whilst tolerating being grown in a planter 50 cm deep by 39 wide?  North west facing and a bit exposed. Thanks.

 

hogweed

Presumably you do not want dense planting that will block the light but something that would give a bit of privacy. I'm thinking perhaps some of the taller grasses or even bamboo. 

Borderline

You could try a Skimmia Japonica. But make sure you give it acid soil conditions. But I have to be honest, any shrub grown in a container will be quite slow growing and will need watering especially in the hotter months.

Teenrbee

Thanks Hogweed and Borderline.  Actually did want something dense.  Have a tall  hedge opposite as we live on a rural lane but do get nosey people walking past looking in and annoying our dog.  Plan to keep it at about 1m high to stop this happening.  Not ideal but don't know what else to do.

kevindylan

I have used Kerria Japonica before which works very well, letting some of the light in but fuzzing a lot so it is difficult to see through without actually stopping and looking in. You could also try photinia red robin or a euonymus variety if you want more privacy. If you want interesting foliage over winter months too, you may want to consider pyracantha although I wouldn't get it if you are planning on maintaining it yourself, it is good however at keeping people away from the windows.

Teenrbee

Thank you Kevindylan for some great suggestions,

Fairygirl

Bear in mind that anything substantial in a container will need a lot of looking after. 

It would be better to build something more permanent - a proper raised bed, unless you mean 5cm is the height of the trough? It would need to be the same depth (ie across ) to give a decent enough base for a good sized shrub. 

Eleagnus would grow happily enough in a big container though, and grows relatively quickly, although nothing will be instant.

You could simply plant something like Privet, or Lonicera, and trim/prune accordingly. The yellow ones would also be brighter. Privet's not strictly evergreen, unless you get plenty of moisture, but will screen more than adequately over winter.

It'll grow a bit quicker too. 

Last edited: 22 August 2017 07:15:29

Busy-Lizzie

So long as you feed and water regularly and use good compost, like John Innes No.3, you can grow almost anything in a large pot. I use soil mixed with manure and compost, then I top up with compost to keep weeds down. I have climbing roses and a golden philadelphus (which is in the shade) in a pot, which has masses of scented white flowers in early summer. I think the NW facing and a bit exposed is more critical as I imagine there will be less sun and many shrubs like sun. Go to the garden centre, see what you like and ask advice about growing conditions and eventual height.

Fairygirl

Just realised I put 5cm instead of 50cm  

The planting medium and proper aftercare are the secrets to maintaining something long term, as BL says.

There are certainly plenty of choices for the location. It largely depends how much time you want to spend looking after it  

Loxley

I would go with Phyllostachys aurea or nigra. Homebase are selling big ones for £25 that would give instant impact. I bought one and split it into two plants. 

 

Loxley

... If you bought two and split them in the same way, and planted them side by side in a row of 4, you'd have a pretty instant screen that was clothed in foliage to a height of about 6ft.