Spring Containers

This week we will hit the official "Frost Free" date for our area, and with lots of sun and warm temperatures in the forecast, it will be a great week for planting. This past weekend was a good example on how even with the warm weather we had, we can still have cold nights that can be dangerous to plants.

Some of the more tender plants to watch out for include impatiens, sweet potato vine, angelonia, ageratum, zinnias, tropicals, basil, tomatoes, peppers and other warm weather crops. To protect these plants, be sure to either cover them with a lightweight bed sheet or bring them into the garage for the night.

Cold nights aside, it is time to get planting. While we are about three weeks behind weather-wise this year, it is not too early to put together your container gardens.  There are many different ways to design your containers, all of which can result in beautiful pots all summer long.

The first method to designing your container is the simple “Thriller-Filler-Spiller” method.  With this technique, you choose a thriller, or a plant with height, to place in the back of the pot.  Next, you choose a filler, a plant that mounds and is a little bit shorter than your thriller plant.  Finally, you put a spiller at the edge of the pot to trail over.

This technique is basic but effective.  One thing to take into consideration is if your pot is seen from all sides or just the front.  This will help you determine where to place your thriller-in the center of the pot or the back.  Following this simple guideline will help you create pots that will impress but did not take a lot of thought.

While you always want to keep a plant’s growing habit in mind, another way to design a pot is based on color.  Making sure the flowers and foliage compliment not only the pot they’re planted in, but your house as well.  You don’t want to plant all red flowers in front of a red brick house, because you won’t be able to see them.

Much like interior design, you can go with a few different color schemes. The first is monochromatic.  Using all different shades of the same color within the pot can create a great look for any home.  From dark purples to light lilacs, a pot of all purple flowers mixed with different green foliage, can really pop.

Another idea is to use complimentary colors. Purple with yellow, red with green or blue with orange.  These colors play off of each other to really pop in a container. You can also play with popping color by using only one color in a pot with white being the other color.  Hot pink and white as all your colors in your pots will look uniform and make that pink really shine.

However you decide to choose your colors, it is important to pay attention to size as well.  If you have a really large pot, it is best to go with somewhat larger plants.  Granted your plants will grow during the summer, until they really fill in, a large pot filled with a bunch of tiny plants can look awkward.

Another thing to look at is height.  You want the height of your plants to be proportionate to the height of your pot.  Tall pots should mean tall plants, or at least a tall “Thriller.”

Finally, when designing, always keep light in mind. Plants have specific requirements to grow, most importantly is the light it grows in.  So no matter how you decide to go about designing your containers, be sure you are choosing plants with similar light needs.

If designing containers seems overwhelming to you, feel free to stop by our Design with the Experts Nights. These take place every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 at night.  Bring in your pots or your measurements, and we’ll make sure you leave with fabulous looking container gardens.

Happy Planting!