Picking Plants for Your Backyard Patio

There are many reasons to concentrate your gardening efforts on creating a colorful, cool, and intriguing patio with container plants. Maybe you're lacking room in the yard to landscape it satisfactorily. Or, you spend a lot of time on the patio entertaining guests or just relaxing.

Whether it's trees for shade or height, shrubs for privacy, or vibrant annuals for your color fix, container gardening on your patio is a big winner in our climate. After all, we can protect those plants over the winter and enjoy them in spring in any of these Mansfield and Ashland homes for sale.

What's more, our REALTORS® have some great advice on what type of plants you should select for your patio renovation.

Choosing Container Plants

When planning patio gardens, we have to consider hardiness zones and what that means for the container gardener. We have a long winter in Northeast Ohio, with temperatures sometimes below freezing. That puts us in the U.S. plant hardiness zones of 5b and 6a. The rule of thumb for container gardening is that plants should be hardy to at least two zones colder. That means you will need to protect your container plants from freezing by covering or bringing them inside. The plants that go dormant may be just fine, but because the roots are in containers and not below ground, added protection is necessary. 

It's also a good idea to choose low-maintenance plants. Your garden store experts can advise you on what does well in pots and on patios. 

• Trees
  Dwarf Peach - Enjoy juicy peaches in the summer while you lounge in the feathered shade of the Dwarf Peach (Prunus persica). It will drop leaves in the winter, but don't bring it inside. It needs below-freezing temperatures to encourage peach growth. Plant this 5-foot tree in a container that holds at least 5 gallons of soil and place it in a sunny spot on the patio.
  
  
• Shrubs
  Green Mountain Boxwood - This type of boxwood is a perfect choice for patio container gardening. Planting it in a container will keep it under control, so it grows smaller than its normal 5 feet by 3 feet size. It has an elegant pyramid shape and deep green foliage that should persist through the winter. Rotate it so each side gets sun.
  
  Emerald Arborvitae - Sometimes your containers need a vertical accent, and this arborvitae is just the thing. Containerizing it will keep it well under its natural 15 feet by 4 feet size. It likes full sun or light shade. A rich green, it maintains color through the winter. 
  
  
• Perennials
  Golden Sword Yucca - This green and golden perennial, with its sword-like aspect, pairs beautifully with many plants and persists through the seasons. Combine it with pretty Bergenia for a striking display in summer and fall, then in winter, with yellow and red twig dogwood for a warmer palette. In spring, set it off with colorful pansies.
  
  Golden Creeping Jenny - This perennial is just right for container life. Only 4 inches tall, it gracefully cascades over the rim of the pot. The leaves, round and golden, pair well with just about anything. The plant likes partial shade but can take full sun. Keep it well watered.

Landscaping your patio will extend your living space comfortably into the outdoors. Add visual interest with plants of varying heights; choose smaller plants that thrive in the shade of taller plants. Need more tips? Contact us today.