Create your own alpine container garden by following these easy steps…
Growing in containers is great for small spaces and allows you to enjoy the area without making it feel overly crowded. Alpine planters are an especially good choice as they are low maintenance and provide interest and colour all through the year.
1.Choose your Planter – An ideal alpine planter is shallower and wider than a normal pot. Our range of Errington Low Bowls are available in a range of colours to add additional interest to your space. You could also repurpose other items to plant in such as our wooden crates, or an old butler sink. Ensure your planter has holes for drainage to keep your alpines looking their best.
2. Acquire Materials – Alpines enjoy a free draining soil to grow in so you’ll need plenty of grit, sharp sand and even broken pots or large stones. The sand and grits need to be horticultural grade so there are no impurities like salt which can affect how your plants grow. You will also need a soil based compost, like John Innes No.2, to mix with sand to decrease its water retention. Place the broken pot in first over the drainage holes to stop them from clogging up, then cover with the grit, then the sand, making sure each layer is about 1 inch thick. Fill the rest with the sand/compost mix leaving about 1 inch from the rim.
3. Choose Plants – This is mostly down to personal choice but if you want interest all year try and choose evergreen varieties with different flowering times, this will prevent your planter from becoming a pot of promise over the winter period. You will also want to think about having a mix of trailing, low growing and upright varieties as these will increase the depth of colour without taking up any extra room.
4. Planting – When placing your alpines in your container be conscious of their growth habits, it’s best to place any trailing varieties near the edge and taller ones in the middle. You will also want to plant your alpines fairly shallow, with the top of the root ball in line with the compost in the planter.
5. Water & Aftercare – Finally, give your container a good drink to settle your plants in, then water sparingly after that, watering more regularly in the heat of summer, but most of all, sit back, relax and enjoy your outside space!
TOP TIP: Cover the top of your planter with decorative stones or grits to finish the look!
For more inspiration on how to use alpines, check out Lizzie’s Pollinator Path article.