8 erreurs de jardinage en conteneur à éviter (et 5 solutions !), selon les experts

Que vous soyez novice ou passionné de jardinage, nous commettons tous des erreurs, qu’il s’agisse de négliger nos

fleurs pendant les vacances

ou de les arroser accidentellement de façon excessive. Si les parterres de fleurs et les

arbustes

peuvent être un peu plus indulgents, le jardinage en conteneur demande un peu plus d’attention. Nous avons fait appel à deux professionnels des plantes pour qu’ils nous fassent part des erreurs à éviter en matière de jardinage en bacs, ainsi que des solutions faciles à mettre en œuvre pour y remédier.

Ne pas assurer un bon drainage

De l’arrosage excessif à l’arrosage insuffisant, il est tout aussi important d’hydrater correctement vos plantes que de veiller à ce que vos

pots soient bien drainés

. « Un bon drainage est essentiel lorsque l’on cultive des plantes dans des conteneurs », explique M. McConnell. « L’engorgement de l’eau peut provoquer la pourriture des racines des plantes, en particulier des variétés sensibles à l’excès d’eau. Cela peut nuire à la santé à long terme de la plante, voire la tuer ».

Un mauvais drainage peut également être à l’origine d’une série de problèmes, allant des parasites aux maladies. « Malheureusement, il ne suffit pas d’ajouter du gravier ou de grosses pierres au fond de votre plantation en conteneur si votre conteneur n’a pas de trous de drainage ; cela ne fera qu’élever la nappe phréatique dans votre conteneur. »

La solution :

« Veillez à ce que votre conteneur soit doté de trous de drainage et que vous utilisiez un mélange de terre adapté aux besoins en eau des variétés que vous y cultivez », explique M. McConnell.

Using The Wrong Soil

Making sure your soil has all

the right elements

is essential to healthy blooms no matter where they are planted, but container-grown plants have

specific soil

needs compared to those planted in the ground that receive natural nutrients from the earth.

“For popular container-grown plants such as hydrangeas, gardenias, and azaleas, choose well-draining soil that facilitates adequate airflow, moisture retention, and nutrition,” explains McConnell. “Soil taken directly from your yard or bags labeled ‘garden soi’ at the store is not generally ideal for containers; it is often too dense and heavy to allow for adequate root growth and drainage.”

The Solution:

“Look for a potting mix with ingredients like peat moss, pearlite, and pine bark,” suggests McConnell. “You may also want to look for mixes that contain

fertilizer

to support your plants’ growth.”

Planting All The Same Height

Rather than just plopping a few ho-hum containers scattered around your outdoor spaces that all look the same, use varying heights to help add interest. This applies not only to the contents within, but also the vessels themselves. “Choosing a shrub or staked vine to anchor the container and move from season to season is a great way to balance smaller seasonal annuals,” says Tamony.

Forgetting To Consider Weather Sensitivity

It’s important not only to consider where your containers are going to live before selecting the elements within them, as some require more shade or sun than others to thrive, but also the general weather conditions they are likely to endure. “When plants are grown in containers, their roots are less protected by the ambient temperature of the earth than they would be if they were grown in-ground,” says McConnell.

Those in pots are more susceptible to cold damage, which can lead to slower growth or foliage and bud loss. “Since containers offer a more limited volume of soil with which to insulate their sensitive roots, the roots are more exposed to the surrounding air and its fluctuating temperatures.” The same applies to containers exposed to high temperatures and excessive sunlight as they cannot hold as much moisture making your plants become dehydrated faster.

The Solution:

• “If you would like to keep your container plants outdoors all winter, the easiest option is to select plants that are
  
  hardy one to two USDA Zones colder than your area
  
  ,” says McConnell. “For instance, if you live in Zone 7a, you’ll want to select container plants that are cold hardy to Zone 6a or 5a.”
• “Another solution is to
  
  move your container plants to a cool indoor space during the winter,
  
  like a garage or an interior room with a sunny window. If you’re moving the plant to a garage, ensure that it continues to receive some sunlight and ensure that the indoor temperature doesn’t consistently fall below the cold range of your plant’s hardiness zone, » adds McConnell.

Sticking To The Thriller, Filler, Spiller Formula

This classic approach to container design is a tried-and-true method, but it doesn’t mean it’s the

only

way to filling and arranging your pots. “This three plant design strategy is timeless, but mono plant containers and larger containers with more than three plant types can be stunning and unexpected,” says Tamony. You can even try something new and less-expected like a

topiary

or edible perennials. “Using a topiary in a container creates an instant statement piece and planting blueberries with beautiful foliage such as

Bountiful™ Baby Blueberry

, compact blackberries, or even herbs can capture attention. It also offers easy access for harvesting,” she says.

Pairing The Wrong Plants Together

While you might be tempted to just throw whatever looks pretty together in a pot, that might not be your best recipe for success. Instead, combine plants with similar requirements. “Plants are like people and not every ‘roommate’ gets along,” says McConnell. “When selecting plants to live in the same container, it’s essential to consider the sunlight, zone hardiness, soil needs, and water requirements of each plant.” Avoid putting shade-loving plants alongside sun-loving varieties that need six or more hours of direct sunlight a day.

The Solution:

• 
  “
  
  If you’re looking to create your own unique combination, refer to the plant information tag that comes with your plant when you purchase it at the store. Check its sun and shade tolerance, USDA Zone hardiness, soil needs, and watering requirements,” says McConnell. “Pair plants whose needs are compatible so that you can situate and care for your container in a manner that ensures its success.”
• McConnell suggests this container combination recipe for success in a sunny spaces:
  
  Design-A-Line™ Cordyline
  
  ,
  
  ‘Sunshine’ Ligustrum
  
  ,
  
  Saucy Wine™ Salvia
  
  , and
  
  Purple Pixie® Dwarf Weeping Loropetalum
  
  .

Using Roses Solely As Landscape Plants

Though commonly used for

climbing trellises

, filling garden beds, and

lining fences

, roses aren’t just for planting in the ground. They also make a beautiful and hardy container filler suited to a variety of sunny and shady spaces. “Compact roses such as Monrovia’s

Nitty Gritty™ Rose

collection provide season-long, easy-care color in containers and spill nicely over the rims,” says Tamony. “With five colors to choose from, you’re sure to find a favorite.”

Only Using Annuals In Your Containers

“If you’re looking for colorful, eye-catching planters, you don’t have to rely on annuals alone to get the look,” explains McConnell. “Annuals are an attractive filler for containers, but their beauty often only lasts a few months, then they fade or succumb to the season’s temperatures.” Sticking to one-and-done blooms can be more costly and cause added work as you’re constantly replanting.

“Perennials and compact shrubs are an excellent way to anchor containers,” adds Tamony. “

Compact hydrangea

, Hosta, canna, roses, echinacea, and even smaller conifers can add structure and texture as well as color.”

The Solution:

• 
  Anchor your containers with shrubs and perennials.
  
  “A compact or dwarf variety shrub can provide multiple seasons of beauty and then it can even be transplanted into your yard after its ‘service’ in your planter is done,” says McConnell. “Container-friendly varieties of woody shrubs can thrive in planters for years, resulting in less labor and money spent in the long run. Another bonus of creating containers with shrubs and perennials is that you can get the bountiful blooms, pollinator interest, and enchanting fragrance that annuals would provide, but with better longevity and long-term value.”
• A few varieties McConnell suggests include evergreen shrubs like
  
  Golden Oakland® Holly
  
  and
  
  Purple Pixie® Dwarf Weeping Loropetalum
  
  for four seasons of color,
  
  Diamond Spire® Gardenia
  
  for compact blooms and fragrance, and perennials like
  
  ‘Soft Caress’ Mahonia
  
  and
  
  ‘Pink Fizz’ Heucherella
  
  for shady spaces.