Talkback: Shrubs for patio pots

Gardeners' World Web User

Hi Adam, why not take out a bit of extra 'insurance' by wrapping the pot in bubble polythene and wrapping the plant in fleece, if it isn't too big to do so. If it is too big for the fleece why not put a layer of mulch round the base of the plant. Regards,Lorrie

Gardeners' World Web User

Hi Adam, it gets really cold up here in north west of england, but despite this i have 2 bannana plants, cordylines, treefern, trachycarpus, phormuimsginger lillies, pineapple lillies, etc the trees i wrap with fleece & the rest of it just gets a thick layer of farmyard manure to keep it warm. I have done this for the last 8 yrs now and have some really huge specimens to show for it.

Gardeners' World Web User

Thanks Paul. Insulating tender plants can keep the cold away, and a thick layer of farmyard manure certainly helps. However, the past few winters really haven't been that severe, so I wonder if this protection would be good enough if we got a 'really' freezing spell. Anyone remember the winter of 1963? (The snow lasted for weeks, and I even built an igloo you could get inside!)

Gardeners' World Web User

I think these plants are really pretty. They grow well and look nice. I like the picture its very interesting and it has captured the flower at an interesting angle.

Gardeners' World Web User

I have a Oleander growing in a pot outside. it has been there for for 3 years now and it has never flowered once. Can anyone explain why? (I do feed it and protect it during the winter)

Gardeners' World Web User

if plants outgrow their pots and become a mass of roots with hardly any soil left in rootball would it gradually weaken and die if left in pot and given plenty of liquid feed i am referring to large shrubs that would require breaking favourite pots to remove thank you.

Gardeners' World Web User

I've just ordered 3 Oleanders and I'm now having second thought due to their toxic problem any advice, oh! they will be in pots

Gardeners' World Web User

I've just purchases 3 Oleanders now having doubts due to reading about toxic problems any advice !

Gardeners' World Web User

Rely to Tom If you have young children or pets that could chew plants then I would be cautious. Oleander is very poisonous. This isn't a problem for most of us, as no one is likely to start eating leaves of plants around our gardens, but do consider any risks carefully.

In Mediterranean countries oleander is widely grown among streets and in virtually every hotel garden, etc, and I'm not aware that they pose a great danger in these regions.

Gardeners' World Web User

I think the problem with Oleanders is that they look great whilst we are on holiday in warmer climes where they are showy and make an area look really pretty but it doesn't happen in UK simply because our climate is unsuitable unless we have a 3/4 month glorious stretch.
The first thing that suffers is new season buds which, at the slightest hint of cold weather, will turn black and die off. New season shoots will suffer the same problem thus denying buds and flowers the following year.
I have 4 shrubs currently around 1 metre high, 3 years old and they managed to produce one half-open flower between them last year!! I've since decided to go for Azaleas and Bougainvillas instead, lesson learned!!

Gardeners' World Web User

hi
iam trying to look after my deceaced husbands oleander it is in a pot ,in the concervatory ,but the leaves are repidly going yellow ,what am i doing wrong ,and how can i save it