 NO NEED FOR A DULL AND
BORING DOORSTEP!
BRIGHTEN IT UP WITH
A PINE FOREST!!
It's amazing the difference the right plant in a pot or container can make to a bare doorstep, patio or any area of hard landscaping. Plants can do more than simply soften the look of concrete, paving or decking. A small cluster of two or three containers or pots with plants which work well together can completely alter a hard landscaped area for the good.
Varieties of the dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo) provide some excellent options for planting in pots and containers. They offer a range of shapes, sizes, colours and textures. With names like 'Gnom', 'Mops' and 'Humpy' some of the Pinus mugo varieties sound like distant cousins of Snow Whites Seven Dwarfs! As their names suggest these plants can bring lots of character to a patio or balcony. The varieties 'Mops' and 'Gnom' are both rounded dwarf shrubs with lush green needle-shaped leaves. Of the two varieties, 'Mops' has mid-green foliage whereas 'Gnom' is dark green in colour. Other varieties include 'Ophir' and 'Winter Gold'. Both these plants have golden-yellow foliage in winter. 'Ophir' is a compact and rounded variety whilst 'Winter Gold' is a bush with a more spreading growth habit. These dwarf varieties work well in pots and containers and are also suitable for small gardens and popular for use in rockeries. Being evergreen these plants bring the bonus of colour and structure throughout the year. Dwarf mountain pines are fully hardy and generally do well in most soils. Site them in a sunny position. The slow growing dwarf varieties require little maintenance.
Dwarf mountain pines can work particularly well when a few are planted together or when pots or containers are positioned in a small group. These plants are versatile and can also be used to make attractive arrangements in combination with other plants such as heathers, dwarf spruces and firs. You can also put together a themed arrangement perhaps by using Pinus mugo 'Mops' with a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) and maybe some dwarf bamboos to create a patio planting with a Japanese feel.
Planting in pots and containers is a very effective way of creating a garden area on a patio or balcony. Among the many advantages that container gardening has, one of the biggest is its mobility. There's a lot of fun to be had making and remaking an exciting patio or balcony container garden. And if you need to move house, all you have to do is put the plants in the van along with everything else!
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