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I'm going to get some larger tubs for my apple trees (IF they have survived my complete lack of care over the winter, but they survived the same treatment last year) as they need repotting and as I'm planning on those big barrel type things I would like to plant something to grow around them. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what would be suitable? Must be good for wildlife and look pretty or attract pretty things like butterflies :-)
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
nessthehat said:Hi KT. As gardening is constant hard work (we've mentioned this before!) Can I suggest something else to plant under your apple trees? Alpine strawberries are easy to grow from seed, look pretty, are native and taste great - a little treat to reward all your hard work! Best wishes, Ness.
Haha guess what? I planted some of those under one of the trees yesterday! :-) Great minds eh?
Higgy - I've been looking for plants that have to be able to grow in containers with apple trees, I've already ordered a number of wildlife friendly plants but I've been looking for things specifically for the containers not the garden as a whole :-)
Got all my container companions for my apple trees sorted now :-) I'm going with: apline strawberry, nasturium, bidens and possibly brachycome and cinneria.
Hi Kat,
May I suggest dog violets under your apple trees, they do really well in tubs, I've found and they will attract insects also they are the food plant for fritallary (sp? sorry, it's early, brain's not lined up yet) butterflies. I had loads of violets in my last garden and over the years the numbers of this beautiful butterflies really built up.
What a beautiful butterfly/ insect border - your fingers are obviously very green indeed. Fabulous. Thanks for the heads up about dahlias, I ordered a whole load of singles in the hope insects would like them - glad to read that they will.
Ohhh i like dog violets! Would they be able to go under the rowan or whitebeam tree? Wanting plants to share their containers now, can the ones already listed go with them?
In my experience dog violets grow practically anywhere, unlike sweet violets, they're fussier. Dog violets spread themselves about very freely indeed ot they have for me, I'm delighted to say.