Tub ideas

I've come into possession (thanks Gumtree!) of two large metal tubs. This is the smaller one:



The larger is identical but probably half a foot wider and longer, so pretty substanial.

I've put my fuschia (Rivendell) in there for now, as much to rescue her out from under the dahlias as anything, but I'm now musing on how to plant them up properly. I'm not fussed about them matching - if anything I'd rather they didn't - but I would like colour and hopefully a bit of scent.

I've already bought lots of spring bulbs (mainly crocuses - croci? - and daffs) as there don't appear to be any previously planted in the garden previously, so some of them could go in one, but I'd like to plant them well enough to have something there through as much of the spring and summer as possible. Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions?

 

Probably a silly question but have they got drainage holes? Whatever you plant, it would be worth lining the sides and base with some sort of sheet plastic to stop them rusting, then pierce plenty of holes in the bottom. Choice of plants boils down to your climate, whether they're in sun or shade, compost type ( could grow acid-soil lovers in ericaceous). Back with more suggestions when we know the answers to all that

 

Took my words noisette

2nd_bassoon, if sunny and warm I would make a gritty compost and plant lavendar then topped with chippings. Lavendar is aromatic all year round and not just when in flower
Daphne Eternal Fragrance surrounded by nepeta in the second container......scent from spring to mid summer from the former and continuous blue flowers in summer from the latter. For something of real quiet beauty in a sunny spot Convolvulous Cneorum is ideal. Tactile silver ...yes silver....foliage and pure white flowers in summer. It will form a cascading mound of foliage. Enhance it with blue anemone blanda for delightful blue flowers in spring
If shady a camellia in the larger pot is superb all year round Or a japanese maple for pure elegance

 

I love your tubs! If you get bored with them, please send them up to me .

I would also suggest lavender. I have a few bushes in the garden and always squeeze the flowers as I walk past. Lovely fragrance. Another beautiful, and strongly scented plant which I discovered only this year is nemesia. I have had a spectacular and incredibly long display with Sun Peddle. It smells very strongly of vanilla, and is so pretty.

Hope you have lots of fun filling them!

:spring:

 

Thanks for all the ideas! Part of the reason I'm struggling is because they can be basically anything - one side of the garden gets full sun and the other full shade, and there's space to position them in either. Ditto on the compost, I'll be buying that fresh once I figure out what I'm putting in. So I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with options - there's a bit of me that doesn't want to decide on anything, because once I do I won't be able to do any of the other possibilities instead

 

Decisions, decisions 2nd bassoon
Simplicity is prob best.......nice to have a sun option and a shade one
Perhaps put something temporary in one or both....maybe wallflowers for winter.....to give you thinking time ..?

 

In which case, may I suggest ...

... empty out that compost, line those tubs with bubble wrap, pop holes into the wrap and then ... fill them with daffodil bulbs! The yellows from the daffs will really *pop* against that lovely blue of the pots It will also give you time to *think* about what you may like to have in there longer term. The spent daffs could either be replanted in the garden/given away/composted, so no huge initial expense and no huge agony of removal/disposal when you have decided on the possibility you most favour
If daffs aren't your thing ... think yellow primrose/polyanthus/crocus ... anything yellow to give you a burst of sunshine at the end of Winter, beginning of Spring. It will reboot your enthusiasm for gardening at a time when we're all begging for something to happen in the garden It may, just may, kick start your thinking as to what you may want in there for the long haul

Just curious, how deep are they and ... curious mind wishes to know ... what are the other possibilities you are pondering which you are concerned might be thwarted if you plant them up with something else in the meantime?

 

@"M" Love it, that looks just sooo like me today
LOL so many choices .....so little time