By Lois Scott, Master Gardener
Have you ever considered container gardening with native plants? If you are keen to hear the buzz of pollinators on your balcony, or in a limited gardening space or around the accessibility of a raised bed this is a viable way to add native plants to your environment. What brought me to this topic was being asked twice in one afternoon for advice on using perennial native plants in containers. So yes, I am talking about native plants but the practice would be similar to planting any perennial in a container. The hardiness of your chosen plant is an important consideration so avoid plants that are borderline hardy for your hardiness zone.
Containers can be wood, ceramic, fibreglass or textile grow bags. Metal may absorb too much heat in summer and terra cotta may crack in winter. If you plan on moving them, weight will be an important consideration. Ensure there are drainage holes in the bottom. It is not advised to use stones or clay shards in the bottom of your container as this practice of adding rubble can actually hinder drainage. The planting material should be light and fertile and can include potting soil with compost and perlite. The size of your container will determine the number of plants you can include and bigger is probably better. The larger the container the more your plants will be protected from the damaging effects of the freeze thaw cycle we experience in winter. To help overwinter, keep them in a shady spot if possible and mulch heavily with organic material such as dead leaves.
Watering a container is definitely a commitment over the growing season and native plants are no different, requiring ongoing attention to their moisture needs until winter.
When it comes to plant choice, it is the same as choosing plants for a garden. Right plant, right place! Plants preferring the same conditions of light and moisture will make it easier to care them. Blooming Boulevards has an excellent guide on this topic including plants for all conditions.
Another place to start looking for suitable native plants for containers is The Wildflower Seed Library. The excellent book The Gardeners’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region by Rick Gray and Shaun Boothe includes an appendix for landscape use of native plants including plants for containers.
My photos which I have included are just a few of the many beautiful options for creating a beautiful container display that will be bring a buzz to your life!
Resources
www.torontomastergardeners.ca/gardeningguides/container-gardening-a-toronto-master-gardeners-guide
The Peterborough & Area Master Gardeners 