You see the pictures of flower filled pots in magazines and online inspiring you to plant your own. After all, how hard can it be? Once at the garden center, faced with so many choices you panic, not knowing where to begin. Take a deep breath, grab a cart and let’s get busy designing your spring container garden.
Look for inspiration in the pre-planted spring containers at Pasquesi. See how they combine color and textures to create beautiful living displays. Notice the plants are packed in tight with just enough space to grow and show off their beauty. It is ok to copy their beautiful container garden designs but I am sure you will add your own personal twist this time or next.
Now its time to forge ahead and begin selecting plants for your spring containers. Consider starting with the thriller, filler and spiller container design technique. Taller plants, the thriller, provide a focal point.
Trailing plants or those that spill over the edge of the container anchor the arrangement to the pot. Then the remaining space is filled with plants that unify the design.
Here is a strategy I use when creating my container gardens that might work for you. Take a walk through the aisles to find some thrillers. Taller plants like Nemesia, stocks, snapdragons and spike are great choices for cool weather containers. Select those with attractive leaves and flower colors that appeal to you and complement the container and space in the landscape where it will reside.
Next check out the spillers. Trailing plants like lobelia, bacopa, ivy, lysimachia and lamium all thrive in our cooler spring temperatures. Select a few and arrange them next to the thrillers you selected to see which combinations look the best. Group thrillers with the spillers you plan to use in the same containers.
Now for the final touch. Look for plants that help connect the thriller with the spiller. Some fillers may be bold like Osteospermum with large individual flowers or unique like the Ranunculus with layers of delicate petals. Taller Ranunculus also make great thrillers, while shorter ones add elegance to those in-between spaces. Airy plants and those with smaller flowers also connect the thrillers and spillers. Euphorbia, sweet alyssum and violas are just a few possibilities. Don’t overlook pansies and primulas that generate fond memories of spring.
Add some fragrance for a bit of garden aromatherapy. Sweet alyssum is a traditional favorite whose easy care nature and fragrance has helped it remain a favorite. Stock suffers with a unique name but provides a wonderful fragrance and like many of these flowers, provide nectar for early season pollinators.
Now you have a cart full of plants start arranging them as you would in the container. This is a great way to test your design. If you ever spot me on one of my shopping trips at Pasquesi you will find me doing the same. Just find an out-of-the-way spot as you start arranging the plants in the cart. Don’t be afraid to swap out a few of your original choices with others that work better with the design you are creating.
Don’t forget the container and of course potting mix. Once home fill your container with potting mix, set the plants on the soil surface and fine tune your design before you start planting. Space the plants so they have a bit of room to grow and show off their beauty.
Use your beautiful creations to brighten your front porch, balcony, patio or deck. Enjoy watching your spring containers grow and flourish. Then as spring gives way to warmer temperatures consider adding a few new containers filled with heat loving flowers. With your new-found confidence it will be much easier and even fun to try new combinations for your summer landscape.
Written by gardening expert, Melinda Myers. Melinda Myers is a nationally recognized gardening expert with more than 30 years of horticulture experience. She is a wealth of knowledge and we are pleased to share Melinda’s Gardening Beginners Guide with you!
