Winter Warming Solution for Wildlife: Cultivating Cornus alba and Cotoneaster for an Inviting Habitat
In the heart of autumn, transform your outdoor space with a captivating container display featuring cotoneasters, dogwoods, and plants that attract birds. This combination not only offers a burst of colour but also supports local wildlife well into the late season.
The RHS H7 hardiness rating and USDA 3a-7b zone apply to 'Cornus alba' 'Elegantissima', a deciduous medium-sized shrub with deep-red stems, grey-green leaves with white margins, and a size of 3m x 3m. The AGM symbol indicates 'Cotoneaster x suecicus' 'Coral Beauty' is an award-winning plant, an evergreen shrub that forms a dense mound of small, glossy, dark-green leaves to 1cm long, with clusters of small, white summer flowers followed by bright-orange berries. It grows to be 1m x 2m. The RHS H7 hardiness rating and USDA 5a-7b zone apply to 'Cotoneaster horizontalis', a low-growing, spreading deciduous shrub with distinctive, flat, herringbone-patterned sprays of leaves. The leaves are glossy dark green, and turn orange and red in autumn.
To ensure a successful container display, follow these best practices:
- Choose wide containers (at least 12 inches across) to ensure good moisture retention and root protection during late-season heat and drying conditions.
- Select moisture-retentive potting mixes blended with compost and coconut coir for sustained moisture and nutrients, topped with mulch to reduce evaporation.
- For late-season vigor, feed containers by adding compost or appropriate fertilizer to replenish nutrients depleted over the growing season.
- Regularly deadhead spent flowers and trim back leggy growth to maintain compact forms and encourage prolonged blooming or berry production.
- Position containers in locations that balance sun exposure and protection from harsh wind or extreme heat, considering each species' light requirements.
- Incorporate plants known to provide berries, seeds, or shelter that attract birds—cotoneasters and dogwoods produce colorful berries that feed birds, enhancing wildlife habitat.
- For aesthetic appeal and bird attraction, combine cotoneasters and cornus with other late-season bloomers or berry-producing plants, creating textural and color variety in the container.
- Maintain consistent watering, especially during heat waves, checking moisture daily and watering deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry.
By following these practices, your container can remain colorful and support local birdlife well into the late season, up to the first frost. Please note that it is an offence to plant or cause 'Cotoneaster horizontalis' to grow in the wild in England and Wales.
After this season, the cornus will be moved out into the wider garden to give it space to grow. Enjoy the vibrant display your container provides, and look forward to the beauty it will bring next year!
To create a thriving container garden that boosts your home-and-garden lifestyle, consider incorporating plants suitable for the late season, such as 'Cornus alba' 'Elegantissima', a deciduous shrub with deep-red stems and grey-green leaves that attract birds. Another great option is 'Cotoneaster x suecicus' 'Coral Beauty', an award-winning evergreen shrub known for its small, white summer flowers, bright-orange berries, and dwarf, mounding growth habit. For a touch of color and texture, add 'Cotoneaster horizontalis', a low-growing, spreading shrub with distinctive, flat, herringbone-patterned leaves. By following best practices like choosing wide containers, using moisture-retentive potting mixes, feeding containers, deadheading spent flowers, and providing appropriate sun exposure, you can maintain a vibrant display of flowers and plants that support local wildlife well into the late season.
