Year round containers?

[ojbsmum]

I've got a small patio/backyard so all I can do is have containers.
Since we moved in, 2 years ago, I've planted lovely spring bulbs, then summer bedding things and sweet peas and had bare containers all winter as I've not got round to finding anything else to put in the pots... I've killed herbs and my lovely lavender seems to have died this winter too.

Two of the (now empty) containers are round, almost 30cm deep, 35cm across, black plastic if that makes any difference...
I'd really like to plant those at least with something that will look nice year round but I know nothing about plants. Obviously I need hard to kill plants...
Is this even possible? Maybe a shrub or small tree and put bulbs in beneath it? Is this pot big enough for, say, something like an acer- i like those!

Any suggestions from green fingered mnetters, please?

They sound a bit small for acers - I've one in a pot nearly twice the size and it's not as happy as if it were in the ground.

Rosemary is a nice plant, I think though you have to keep it trimmed regularly because if you leave it get leggy, and then hack it back, it doesn't produce new leaves? Also you can pick it for your cooking!

Lavender is usually hard to kill - but as it's Mediterranean it likes poorish well drained soil. Have the containers holes in the bottom and have you stones or polystyrene in the bottom also so that the lavender doesn't end up sitting in wet?

Ivy is nice, particularly a variegated one.

Thanks for those thoughts.

I emptied all my dead pots and there was what looks like an ants nest in the lavender pot, plus it probably didn't have enough drainage stuff in the bottom - have bought another today to try again.

Also bought a small bay and a pieris on the advice of someone at the garden centre. Was advised not to underplant with anything else though- what do you think?

I've got some potatoes, carrots and peppers started and looking ok so far and just been given an alpine strawberry and some sweet peas too so feeling quite positive that something may survive and actually look quite nice...

I have killed a couple of lavenders too - they like very poor soil, well-drained, pref with lots of sand (it's why they do so well in N Norfolk & S of France) but I have got one in a small very porous pot which has lasted about 5 years now - it likes neglect

\link{http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ceanothus&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=UEPBT_G5LcOM8gP3tojpCg&sqi=2&ved=0CKQBELAE&biw=1110&bih=854\Ceanothus can do well, in a large pot, & it's evergreen}. I've also had a spiraea which was fine until I let it dry out once too often.

As well as pots I have a fairly small raised bed, & last year planted what Aldi said were osmanthus & deutzia - both doing really well this year though they haven't flowered yet, & they don't look much like their pictures so could be something else entirely

I have got an acer in a pot - it's the \link{http://www.treesdirect.co.uk/uploads/shop/prod/96_04.jpg\red one with broad leaves} & is doing fine in its 2nd or 3rd year (can't remember) - has doubled in height since last year, & the pot's not very big.

My back yard (about 18' square) is quite sheltered though, with walls about 6' high on the N, E & S sides, & the house to the W, so nothing is too exposed to cold winds or frost.

You do have to be incredibly careful about keeping things well-watered (apart from lavender!) especially as they are establishing.

I can recommend Aldi & Lidl for experimenting with plants. They both have a few specials on most weeks, & they cost very little compared with garden centres so you can try a few things & see how you go on.

Also, always look up whatever you buy on google, to see what kind of compost they're best grown in; sandy or boggy, acid or alkaline, & whether they like sun or shade or don't care, & how hardy they are; I have 2 jasmines which are still alive, but I don't think they really like living up north, poor things