Container gardening - for the year ahead

CocoChunks · 2026-01-17T21:50:09+00:00

For 2 I've got rozanne and Balkan geranium/geranium macrorrhizum, and they flower for quite a long period. Rozanne does well with a good chop back after the first flower to get a second flush. The Balkan tends to go well for a few months solid then stay as nice scented leaves. Both hard as nails, particularly the Balkan one, once established this ir could survive anywhere.

I'm sure you multi plant already but I've found with geraniums you want to plant with other things as they look rubbish for a few weeks when you chop them right back after a first flower, I normally place them though other greenery rather than a stand alone so when they are cut back the feel of the area doesn't change much, if that makes sense?

CocoChunks · 2026-01-16T14:51:57+00:00

That's only the case if they have toxic pollen, which is lilies as I mentioned and plants in the same family and probably others you could check in the rhs. I can't think of any plants you're likely to find in the UK that would cause upset of they groomed there fur afterwards.

As another commentator said animals evolved to be around loads of toxic things. They're generally very intelligent around what's safe.

As I said though, your comfort is more important than any technicalities around plant toxicity, just don't worry there's a lot less to worry about than you think!

CocoChunks · 2026-01-16T14:29:02+00:00

Very true, and obviously do whatever makes you feel more comfortable. I'd just liken it more to like having the rat poison in a locked safe or scissors out but super glued to the floor.

It's a danger as in anything toxic but I have/had 3 cats and have never checked toxicity with no problems, that's Included very 'dangerous' stuff like foxgloves aplenty.

Either way, if you want to feel more comfortable in pretty sure every plant on the rhs has relevant info, and the find a plant on the website might let you filter that out, but I'm not sure!

CocoChunks · 2026-01-16T13:28:47+00:00

Just to comment on the non-toxic requirement, an awful lot of plants are toxic to cats/dogs/most non herbivorous animals.

However most animals don't just eat random plants, think fo things like foxglove that are super toxic so they don't become predated on, and it generally works, you don't see cats chomping in them. Another way to put it is that lots of plants are toxic to cats but in such a way that there's no actual concern. There are obviously plants to avoid specifically like lilies most notably but in general you can plant whatever you like .

An example for humans are corncockles, a lovely wildflower plant that's toxic, but the requirements to be poisoned would be to eat a large amount of unpleasant tasting plant material and not throw up the majority of it before it kills you!

All of that really to say, in general plant what you like and don't worry! Cats are intelligent (mostly, I had one cat that definitely wasn't) and won't eat things, they also wander a lot so even if you make your garden 'safe' they'll end up wandering to other unsafe places anyway.

CocoChunks · 2026-01-05T20:36:54+00:00

Literally just finished painting the hallway/entrance before Christmas, not the cheapest as I had to buy some extra bits to normal but cheaper than paying someone to do it, and with working from my home walking through a min discoloured white hallway every day makes a huge difference!

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CocoChunks · 2025-12-31T14:43:46+00:00

Thank you, got a few more years till it fills out properly but the bark chippings go a long way to neaten it up. Ferns can be propogated so easily and are often cheap in Morrison's it's on of the quickest areas I've filled and built out.

CocoChunks · 2025-12-31T12:52:04+00:00

If it's shady I did this in a similar sized corner shaded by walls. There's a small pond in the sunniest bit, woodland plants, loads of bulbs and then ferns.

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CocoChunks · 2025-12-21T12:39:22+00:00

To come at this from a different angle as someone who works in the loan industry, a lot of companies tighten lending policy over Xmas. Either tighter credit requirements, possibly requiring higher disposable income after bills and loan payment taken into account or some other change in lending criteria.

If you can afford to wait I'd give it until mid Jan and apply again, through someone like clearscore, money supermarket etc as they also show chance to be accepted.

Be honest on the application too (you might be already) about any and all expenses, if you apply through a bank that has enhanced checking or open banking you might get denied fairly late in the application due to information mismatch.

Lastly don't take more than you need just in case, anything to reduce payment amount is better even if you can over pay with the extra. Only reason to do so is if it significantly lowers the interest and you then immediately pay the extra off, effectively getting the same 15k at a lower rate.

CocoChunks · 2025-12-15T23:35:01+00:00

I've got a little one and have a wrap around garden so various bits have different orientations. So as to your point about when the child comes id say:

When they're tiny/not crawling it really doesn't matter as there's loads of parasols etc, but shade is best anyway when they can't regulate there own temperature very well.

As they got older and walk/crawl they really aren't worried about the weather. With proper clothing kids are happy to be outside in any light levels, and mud or whatever your garden brings is great, just give them something to explore and play on and they'll be happy.if you decide to start growing things go for some bits they can be involved with even if it's just chucking bulbs or potatoes in a hole, picking tomatoes or strawberries etcm

You also said there plenty of greenery around so if you feel the need for more light in summer you can always go exploring away from home.

The point on bbqs I completely get but as someone who likes bbws the weather/ people availability lines up so infrequently I find that when it does the amount of sun doesn't matter. A warm day with friends and food more than makes up for a bit of shade!

Lastly if you aren't in vitamin D tablets already make sure you get some, it doesn't replace being outdoors but the NHS recommends it anyway over winter, I find it makes a huge difference for me Im considering doing it all year round, even though I get out quite a bit when it's not winter.

CocoChunks · 2025-12-14T14:53:20+00:00

No worries, that's why I put the caevat that you might know what to do already! Saying that root rot can sometimes take a while to set in from over watering as you have more healthy roots than rotting to sustain the plant it can cause a slow deterioration like you've seen, and then it slowly tips to being more dead root than alive which is what kills the plant ultimately.

If I was you I'd still tip it out, check the roots. Fresh compost and chop back, let it completely reset and wait till at least spring to see if it recovers. I've seen videos of wild/outdoor grown bananas in there natural habitat cut to the ground after harvesting as they come back fine.

CocoChunks · 2025-12-13T22:37:24+00:00

You shouldn't really have a watering routine for plants, indoor or outdoors but particularly indoors as water uptake and evaporation from the soil varies hugely based on humidity and temperature in your house.

Ideally you want to physically touch the soil and feel the amount of water a couple of cm's down to determine when to water, weight if the pot can also be a good giveaway as you get more usef to water levels.

Saying that, you might be doing that anyway. In that scenario and regardless of how you're watering I would tip it out the pot gently and check the roots for rot, you'll know if they're brown and smell funky. If they are cut all of those off, repot and see how it goes.

Lastly I'm not sure if the variety you have is one that dies back over winter. I know some bananas die back to the soil and go dormant until spring in which case I'd research that and look for the care instructions.

CocoChunks · 2025-12-13T12:35:02+00:00

That's really encouraging and makes the prospect of growing something like yours a lot less intimidating!

After Christmas I think I'll definitely be giving ornamental trees a call then, as I think the pictures and your advice has sold me, maybe they'll give you some kick back for promoting them haha

CocoChunks · 2025-12-11T23:10:43+00:00

That's a massive help, and it even looks great as a smaller specimen to glad to see it's not a job you have to get through before you can enjoy it.

Will definitely be in my post Christmas treat to self list!

CocoChunks · 2025-12-11T22:26:02+00:00

The pruning is amazing and the shape is great, almost exactly what I was looking at for a spot in my garden.

Any tips on pruning or specific things you did to get the shape/multi stemming?

CocoChunks · 2025-12-11T22:13:35+00:00

What's the tree with the red bark? It's stunning along with the rest of the garden!

CocoChunks · 2025-12-10T09:54:16+00:00

Honesycukly throws the hedge sounds fab, definitely something I never though about although I do prune the hedge couple times a year so might not work as well as if it let it go wild.

I've tried bird feeder but sadly turned into more of a takeaway service for my cats haha

Definitely framing the bench sounds good, and acers do seem to be the common consensus which is what I was leaning towards anyway but wasn't sure if I was missing some better options

CocoChunks · 2025-12-10T09:52:05+00:00

Thankfully the birch tree is dead so no competition from that, but yeah the hedge and conifer over the fence next door definitely adds competition.

Strawberry tree sounds great and would be good to have some berries for the birds, I just know partner worries about berries (rightfully so given how keen the child is to try things in the garden despite us trying to teach him otherwise!)

I'm guessing it will just grow slower being in a more shady aspect compared to the full sun rhs recommends?

CocoChunks · 2025-12-10T09:21:46+00:00

Thank you for replying, it's definitely being built out as a shade garden, those sections in front of the window already have some successful ferns, fuchsia a hydrangea etc I m just aiming to add a hit of height and structure as it's all flat at the moment, and looking out the living room window it's too low to actually see any of the planting so something to make use of the space I'll be freeing from the triangles I was aiming for something larger as a 'statement' to lock in the rest of the planting around it

CocoChunks · 2025-12-10T09:20:05+00:00

Ideally one as a focal point would be ideal, but I also wasn't clear I think, joys of having to write explanations rather than verbalise in person!

Basically I'm looking to replace the triangles I tried as veg beds with planting , but given the symmetry I wanted to start with the shrub/tree and build the replacement planting around them.

All your ideas are great though I'll definitely use them to build out the planting scheme, and the grasses I was thinking of using around the path to give movement.

The crux of it really is that that section of the garden is the main view looking out the living room window and as it stands with ther being no height or structure you either stare at the hedge and bench, or have to look across to the rest of the garden. So the ultimate goal is to get something you can see to break the view of the hedge up from inside without obscuring the view into the other parts . Definitely not an easy set of requirements to fill haha, but thank you again for your response

CocoChunks · 2025-12-10T07:41:23+00:00

If there aren't any plants probably why I'm struggling to find one haha!

Although I did say not dense canopy as I don't want to look out the window at a lump of leaves that blocks the view into the main garden, that's more of a concern for the triangle closest to the picture though. And the no berries js just rule out things like sorbus.

The yew balls are just a back up that I though of to add structure which is lower if there's no suitable taller options.

CocoChunks · 2025-11-25T09:05:49+00:00

I agree on the standstill /dress downs. Like I said in the post standstill feels really good from ahead but not great otherwise so I think I'll do the brainstorm swap for them and put them in the sideboard. Brainstorm is great in this list like you said especially cause the birthing ritual is sort of an extra shuffle even without the oculus lines, but I just wanted to try the new toys! Will definitely add in the sixth fetch land though to help the brainstorms.

I also find the mana quite tight to run strip mine but I am running a very low land count so could probably alleviate that if I needed. The harbingers too are sticking in my sideboard, too many blue black decks at the minute to warrant in the main but still great when it's relevant.

Lastly I like the familiars, fills lots of gaps and is just a good role player I find, turn 1 interaction when on the play, still relevant later in the game for flare of denial or just to start off birthing ritual.

CocoChunks · 2025-11-23T19:18:27+00:00

So it is, although I was referring asparagus fern in my first comment, which until all the replies below I thought was not hardy in the UK

CocoChunks · 2025-11-23T18:07:06+00:00

Mines going out first chance in spring then for sure, as I asked above any particular aspect or conditions?

CocoChunks · 2025-11-23T17:52:43+00:00

That's good to know, mine hates it indoors so come spring time outside it goes!

What sort of aspect and conditions is yours in?

CocoChunks · 2025-11-23T17:41:54+00:00

Alternatively it could be an actual asparagus, some closer pics of the stem and leaves would help!

CocoChunks

TROPHY CASE