That size won't allow you to do all you hope to with strictly perennials. Do you have a picture of your stump and is it in full sun?

tj

I will totally get a pic up tomorrow. It is DEFINITELY in full sun. My issue is maybe based on ignorance? I have a hard time grasping the concept of annuals. I just feel like you spend the money, then have to spend the same money again next year? LOL Again, I'm a novice at best. But if annuals are also needed, well I've gone this far. I must keep going.

If you want color for a long season using perennials in a planter that size, you will probably want colorful foliage along with some flowers since in general perennials won't bloom all summer. Bulbs with small foliage may help with early and late flower color. Your plants will need to be hardy to a couple zones colder than your zone 5 in order to survive the winter in the more exposed situation of the planter, and that would really limit your plant choices. The plants in your illustration are all annuals, and that may end up being a better solution for you.

This post was edited by nhbabs on Wed, May 8, 13 at 23:40

My only concern with perennials is that you'd be surprised at how fast a stump can break down. Especially when you don't want it to, lol. If you want it to disappear, it seems to last forever, but if you want it to stick around for awhile it seems to be gone in two or three years!

Of course, you can always move the perennials when/if it breaks down, and therefore enjoy it for a few seasons. But just be aware it won't be permanent.

You are right about spending money "again" on annuals, but the upside is you will have longer-season color, and you can change things up every year (or even every season!)

Dee

I agree about annuals but you could do a mix of annuals and perennials. To make it reasonable use seeds. You would be amazed at how fast some annuals grow and bloom from seeds. Just put your seeds in the mix of perennials in the beginning of the season and by summer you will have a blooming stump all summer and until first frost.

I throw Zinnas, marigold, cosmos and sweet allysum in every year for my color through summer until Fall.

The top of the trunk I would use a reblooming daylily, and early and mid blooming bulbs with annual seeds. The daylily leaves would give you cover annuals would give you the flowers.

At the feet of the trunk again reblooming daylily, Spring and Summer bulbs, and some more annual seeds. You could even do a short climbing clematis. Look for the clematis that they say are good for pots. It could limb the tree trunk.

These are all plants I have grown in pots so they should survive your climate in the trunk.

At 14 inches across and only 9 inches deep you're going to have room for maybe 3 petunias and that's it. The depth is what really concerns me. This thing is going to dry out so fast, you'll be watering multiple times a day. Try something simple and easy the first year and see how it goes.

Kevin

Plant Sedums and Sempervivums. They look good and change colors. Don't think about blooms. Sedum 'Angelina' and Sempervivum 'Fuego' would look good together. Maybe throw in some Sedum 'Blue Spruce' too. The good thing about this is you don't need to water it much at all.

I was going to suggest succulents also, Sedums especially. With just the foliage, you can have an amazingly colorful display. Moss roses would appreciate that it's going to be dry. Especially if you like your stump, as mentioned above. If you put something you have to water every day or two, you'll be shocked how fast it degrades.

Here's my hollow log. I just did it this year so the Sedums haven't filled in yet.