Now that the temperatures have risen and we are heading towards the warmth of summer, it is the ideal time to add colorful containers to our decks, patios, porches and landscapes. For many gardeners like me, this involves rejuvenating existing ones by sprucing them up with the summer color that will add flower power from now until the frost comes in fall. This may also mean looking for new quality, frost-proof pots and creating fresh designs to add impact around the home and landscape. Whether new or old, this is the perfect time to get your containers dialed in for the summer season.
Whenever I talk container design, I always start with three principle components: the thriller, the filler and the spiller. All of these decisions will come down to YOUR preferences, but they are opportunities to have fun - I can certainly tell you what I like, but ultimately the foliage and flower power you choose needs to match your own individual taste.
The Thriller: What will the centerpiece of interest be? Since almost anything can be grown in a pot, the options here are endless… Something permanent like a Japanese Maple, dwarf Conifer, grass, or small shrub? Or a fun seasonal item like a Dahlia, Canna Lily, or Salvia? Or maybe just a show-stopping foliage plant like Coleus?
The Filler: What will fill the space around the thriller, providing contrast and color? Again the options are plentiful, both for foliage items like the Heucheras and grasses I tend to use, or more annual flower power like Impatiens, Zinnias, Begonias and Geraniums.
The Spiller: What will trail or spill over the sides a bit, softening the container edge and providing additional color and contrast? Again, lots of options, including more permanent plants like Creeping Jenny, Variegated Ivy, and trailing Euonymus, or even more annual flower power like Lobelia, Million Bells, Verbenas, Torenias and Nemesias.
Now, being OCD myself, I admittedly go “matchy matchy” a little too much, but there are certainly spots for this, like either side of the garage door or porch for example. Personally I gravitate towards the hotter yellows, oranges, reds and purples. This may not be your thing however, and pastels can be just as attractive for sure. I try to break out of my mold these days and NOT do the same thing year after year like I used to - the keyword is try.
Here are some general tips to help guide you to successful container gardens…
Always use a quality, well-draining organic potting soil. Keep in mind that tired soil means tired plants, so old soil should not be kept and fresh should be added each year. Be careful with “moisture control” mixes, sometimes they can hold too much moisture.
When planting, use a good organic rose/flower food, and organic ‘Ultra Bloom’ too, mixed into the soil to set the stage for a season of success.
Remember that things don’t have to be packed so tightly that you cannot see soil, give them room to grow, meander and mature. An over-planted container will get tired and need more watering too.
Fertilize regularly to keep things thriving and blooming. Doing this once every two weeks with a good water-soluble product like ‘Sea Grow’. This acts as a foliar food and it filters into the soil for the roots as well.
Many plants can serve multiple purposes; one container’s thriller in another ones filler kind of thing. As an example, a small pot may have a Heuchera as a “thriller”, while a large pot may use these as “fillers” or even “spillers”.
Flowers are always showy, but look for interest from foliage as well. Often variegated, golden, limey chartreuse, or even dark foliage will really pop when mixed with greens and various flower colors.
Always plant like with like (i.e. sun with sun, shade with shade, etc.) and consider watering needs as well (i.e. dry with dry, wet with wet).
Be careful not to overwater your container, especially when newly planted. Check regularly for watering needs, keeping in mind that the top may look “dry” but check into the soil 2 to 3 inches for moisture before watering it again.
As the summer progresses, larger plants mean more roots and less soil, so check watering needs more often, especially in sun.
If you are adding somewhat-permanent plants in the container, fill soil all the way to the bottom and do not use any spacers or fillers. If you have a large, deep pot and are just using seasonal flowers, sometimes an ‘Ups-A-Daisy’ spacer will help save soil. These are inserted into the container and create a hollow bottom, allowing you to only fill the top portion with potting soil.
When placing your containers onto a hard surface (like wood or concrete), use pot risers or pot feet to elevate it off the ground a bit, ensuring drainage and eliminating the pot’s footprint staining the surface.
Now, size matters for sure in the world of container gardening. Designs can be simple and still striking, or large, bold, and intricate. A small pot can be just as impactful as a large one, but the larger the pot the more opportunity to mix things up and use more permanent plants. Personally, I add annual color to all my pots, a few are even 100% annuals but most incorporate annual color in addition to “thrillers” and “fillers” that I can leave potted for a number of years. Often these plants can then be recycled into the garden at some point, which is perfect for feeding my insatiable appetite for more plants to try. As a frugal gardener I can then spend a little less on flowers each season and, instead of redoing the entire pot, can leave the hardier perennial, shrub or small tree that is already in place, adding only the color I crave to make the container pop for another season.
It is the perfect time to visit your local Garden Center and gaze upon flowers in all sorts of colors and styles for both sunny and shady locations. Be sure to ask a Certified Professional Horticulturist for advice on which ones will work best for you and mesh with your style. Almost all gardeners have empty pots behind the house that can be utilized, while others, like me, continue to find more locations to add a container here and there - the perfect excuse to buy another cool pot! Simply put, containers are a fun way to create a personal prize, a mini landscape in some respects, that represents the style and color that speaks you.
