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Container Gardening

Zone 5 dwarf tree or large shrub--winter

17 years ago

I am in zone 5. My blacktop drive buts up against the concrete slab on which my house was built. I have a room with west and south facing windows and it broils in the summer. I would like to keep a container tree or shrub in front of the south window to provide shade to that window. It will be in full sun with no other shade available. During the winter it will be exposed to fairly heavy snow and some very strong winds. Is there any tree or shrub that could survive such a hostile environment?

Mudlady

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Comments (4)

jenny_in_se_pa
17 years ago
The problem with that exposure is that anything evergreen would be subject to severe sun scald (particularly if there is snow cover) and wind dessication during winter - even for in-ground plants facing that direction, in your area. Additionally, a good rule of thumb is to look for plants hardy to 1 - 2 zones lower than you are for container-growing, so that limits the possibilities further. However it doesn't hurt (except the wallet) to try!

An oft-recommended tree is the Alberta Spruce, which would be hardy enough. Problem is that you have to stay on top of them for spider mite problems, as they are quick to brown out.

Some other possibilities would be an upright taxus spp (yew) or aborvitae like Thuja occidentalis ÂFastigiataÂ. In any of the cases, you want to make sure that you have them in sturdy heavy pots that have good drainage and won't tip over in strong winds or with heavy snow bending an upright tree down.
watergal
17 years ago
Is there wind in the summer too? Maybe you could do something just for shade in the summer that dies back or dies off in the winter? Perhaps a vine on a trellis? Or cannas if you can water them a lot in the heat.
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The getting the job and supporting me would be great! LOL! Regarding the yard, there is some beautiful landscaping there, old hemlocks and pines, flowering trees, birches, etc. I'm quite happy with it and don't see any place to add anything. Closer to the house there were some bushes that I kept cutting back multiple times in a season, and they still grew taller than the windows. I'm looking for something evergreen scaled down in size that could add some interest during the winter, and I'll have some flowering shrubs for the summer as well. Thanks!!
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mudlady_gw
Original Author
17 years ago
OK, so now I would like suggestions for the fastest growing, nastiest, most tenacious vine that will prosper in heat, cold, snow and wind. Doesn't have to be pretty. I am about ready to go dig up some sumac and stick that in a planter since it grows anywhere and comes back each year. Can anyone think of a vine that will do as well as sumac? Thanks.
Mudlady
jenny_in_se_pa
17 years ago
Maybe virginia creeper?

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