DIY
Winter Foliage Container
Winter Foliage Container
Step 1: Choose a tall container with an opening that is at least 14 inches wide. Use a pot with a drainage hole for best watering practices.
Step 2: Fill about 2/3 of the container with Pike Potting & Container Soil. Place a coffee filter over the drainage hole first to prevent dirt from spilling out.
Step 3: Mix in 3/4 of a cup of Dr. Earth's Root Zone organic starter fertilizer. This helps prevent transplant shock and gives new plants a jumpstart on growth.
Step 4: Place the small arborvitae in the center/back of the container as the "thriller."
Step 5: Place the helleborus (aka lenten rose) and the purple leucothoe next to the arborvitae.
Step 6: Add more soil around the root balls of the larger arborvitae, helleborus and leucothoe so the remaining smaller plants won't sink too far down into the pot.
Step 7: Plant the pansy and the variegated pachysandra around the larger plants as "fillers."
Step 8: Add the carex grass as the "spiller" close to the container edge.
Step 9: Fill in any spaces with potting soil as needed and then water in everything. Water at the soil level (never overhead - this encourages disease). When water starts to drain from the bottom stop and let the pot drain completely. You're done!
About Some of the Plants
In This Container
- Arborvitae is an evergreen conifer that will eventually reach 15 feet tall (over many years).
- You can enjoy it for a long time in a mixed container, and once it grows larger you can move it to a pot by itself (great choice for a topiary) or plant it in your yard.
- Helleborus is a perennial flower with evergreen foliage.
- Once the blooms are done for the season, you can keep the plant in the pot as a foliage filler, or transplant it to a shady spot in your yard and enjoy its blooms next winter.
- Leucothoe is a low-growing small shrub often used as a groundcover.
- It has stunning winter foliage (as you can see) and produces drooping clusters of blooms in spring.
- As it grows larger you can transfer it to a larger mixed container or place it in a partial shade area of your yard, like under a tree.
Shopping List
- 1 - Helleborus 'Pink Marble' 1 gal.
- 1 - Arborvitae 'Emerald Green' 6 inch
- 1 - Leucothoe (aka Fetterbush) 'Scarletta'® 1 gal.
- 1 - Red Pansy, 3.5 inch
- 1 - Carex Grass 'Evergold' 4 inch
- 1 - Variegated Pachysandra 'Silver Edge' 3.5 inch
- 1 - Bag of Pike Potting & Container Soil 8 qt.
- 1 - Bag of Dr. Earth Root Zone organic starter fertilizer 4lb.
