Shrub In Container

Growing shrubs in container gives both variety and unique design to your garden. One of the major advantages of growing shrubs in container is that these can be used for accentuating, both the outdoors and indoors of your home. Container shrubs are the best option to adorn the patio or terrace. Also, the number of shrub options available is endless - aucuba, camellia, clematis, deutzia, euonymus, fire thorn, flowering currant, forsythia, honeysuckle, hypericum, kerria, Oregon grape, prunus, spirea, tamarix, weigela and wisteria make excellent choices. To know more about how to grow shrubs in container, read through the following lines.

Steps For Growing Shrubs In Container

Selecting Container
The first step towards growing shrubs in container would be to choose a container. The market is virtually flooded with options, depending on the size, color, shape and material of the container. Before getting a container, make sure that it gels with the style and basic outlook of your garden. Also, it should be large enough to allow the roots of your plant to grow.

The container you choose should be a stable one, in order to balance the top-heavy growth. If you intend to leave the shrub outside all year round, make sure the container is fully frost-proof. Wooden half-barrels containers are the ideal option for large shrubs, but make sure that the wood is of good quality, else it would fall apart, eventually breaking the pot.

Compost
Peat based multipurpose compost are not suitable for the growth of shrubs. Instead, go for loam-based compost, as they are more capable of taking care of the nutrients. Acid loving plants, such as rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias need special ericaceous compost.

Drainage
Make sure that the pot has several draining holes. For proper drainage, layer 3 inches of broken terracotta pieces or polystyrene plant trays at the base of the container before filling it with compost. Polystyrene plant trays pieces decrease the weight of the pots, preventing clogging of drainage holes. Well-drained soil helps in the development of the roots. To make the drainage more effective, make the pot stand on the terracotta stand or on wooden pieces

Watering
Regular watering is a must, for growing shrubs in containers. This is because bushes have large root systems that take up a lot of water. Even after a heavy rainfall, do not forget to water the container. In case of extreme hot and dry climate, watering once or twice a day is essential.

Feeding
At the time of putting the shrub in the container, combine a handful of controlled release fertilizer granules. This would provide the plant its fodder for several months. Thereafter, give the plant a liquid feed, added to the watering can. In case of you are growing acid loving plants in ericaceous compost; provide them with special fertilizers that are available.

Repotting
At times, it is seen that the shrubs outgrow their containers. It is then that you need to repot the shrub. In case of repotting, add fresh compost that has been mixed with a few controlled release fertilizer granules in the new container. Now, applying slight pressure, pull out the roots of the shrub and repot it.

Protecting over winter
Container plants are more vulnerable to damage than those growing outside. For protecting them from harsh winters, move them to a sheltered place, such as a porch or cold greenhouse. For plants with fleshy roots, the best bet would be to wrap the pots with bubble wrap.