Container gardens are an easy way toadd a splash of color to yourpatio or porch.
Sure, you’re free to throw somebegoniasorpetuniasinto a pot and call it a day.
The right mix of plants arranged correctly in a pretty planter can be pure magic.
Credit: Laurie Black
These six simple steps will show you how to create a beautiful arrangement every time.
Whenchoosing a vesselfor your container garden, you’ll also want toconsider your style, budget, and space.
When combiningplants in your containergarden, ensure they all need the same light levels and frequency of watering.
Credit: Joseph Wanek
Combining these three types of plants adds interest and balance.
Thriller:These plants add height and a bold vertical element.
Some options include plants chosen for foliage,ornamental grasses, or upright flowering plants.
Thrillers typically go near the center of a container.
Filler:Fillers tend to be more rounded or mounded and serve to make the container look full.
These are generally placed in front of or around the thriller.
Spruce, the thriller in this container garden arrangement, is a cold-tolerant plant, so it will last through the fall.Credit: Jason Donnelly
Spiller:Plants that hang over the edge of the container are considered spillers.
If your container garden is seen from all sides, place spillers all the way around.
Limit the Number of Plants You Use
Be careful not to overfilla container garden.
Textured leaves provide color in this container design, rather than relying on flowers.Credit: Jason Donnelly
If the plants are overcrowded, growth can be stunted both above and below the soil.
Fill your container two-thirds full withan all-purpose potting mix.
Don’t be tempted to use garden soil.
This container is light and bright, which you don’t typically get with shade plants.Credit: Jason Donnelly
It’s too heavy and won’t drain as well as it must in a container.
Then, fill around them with potting mix until your container is two-thirds full.
Avoid tugging on the plant itself, which may damage it.
This arrangement loves full sun and is designed with heat-tolerant plants.Credit: Jason Donnelly
Loosen the roots to encourage them to grow outward into the pot.
This will make it easier for you to water later.
Use your hands to press down lightly on the mix to eliminate large air pockets.
Lime green and warm colors make his sunny container pop.Credit: Jason Donnelly
Water Your Plants
Water your container gardento help the soil settle in.
Add more soil if needed so that all the roots are covered.
If it’s dry, it’s time to water again.
The important thing when container gardening is to choose plants that prefer the same light conditions.
The variegatedhostasact as fillers, along withasparagus fernand floweringbrowallia.
‘Goldi’ creeping Jenny andEnglish ivytake the role of spillers.
All of these different plants do well in their part shade location.
Dark and Bold Container Garden
Deep greens and purples add depth, even in shady spots.
Spillers are blue-floweredlobelia andsilveryJapanese painted fern, which set off the darker plants and pot.
‘Silver Falls’dichondramakes a fine spiller with its dangling stems of pale, silvery foliage.
Warm Colors Container Garden
The warm colors of sunset inspired this combination.
Two varieties ofsweet potato vine(‘Margarita’ and ‘SolarPower Lime’) add bright foliage as spillers.
