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Container Plants and Furniture

From "Weekend Landscaping"
episode WKL-201

Figure A

Large pots, like the ones shown in figure A, create a perimeter presence and are filled with grasses for a textural effect. The pots seen here have self-watering inserts. The inserts have a reservoir to hold water, with tiny holes at the bottom of the insert to draw water up into the soil and a wicking system to install in the soil at the top to insure that plant root systems are consistently watered . A drainage hole on the side of the insert prevents over watering. These pots will require protection in cold climates to prevent freezing.

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Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

Blue fescue (Festuca cinerea 'Elijah Blue'), shown in
figure B, is a favorite among ornamental grasses. Prized for its icy blue color, blue fescue's drought tolerance, texture, color and buff-colored plumes also make it an ideal accent for Asian and rock gardens as well as dry stream beds.

Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'), with its purple-maroon foliage (figure C), is striking when planted in groups. In the summer, it produces vibrant red flower spikes. In containers, it also adds texture and vertical interest.

Cabaret Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Cabaret') has tall, broad green leaves, with milky white stripes (figure D), which balance the height of the windows. When planted in the ground, silver grass can attain a height of 7', in containers it will grow to 4-5'. In the fall, copper-colored plumes rise above the foliage, then turn a cream color on pink stems as they age.

Once the plants are in place, the newly defined space is furnished with a table and chairs (figure E) and a comfortable chaise longue (figure F).

Tip: When selecting furniture, refrain from creating a tight, cramped space; if the area is small, one large piece of furniture is preferable to lots of smaller pieces. For outdoor spaces, teak is an excellent choice -- over time, its finish will weather to a soft gray patina.

Last but not least, a few select accessories (figure G) are added to the built-in shelves above the fountain... now it's time to relax and enjoy!