By applying a few basic principles, even novice gardeners can create and maintain attention-grabbing containers.
Plant selection depends on location, light and temperature. Containers can hold many different types of plants, including houseplants, succulents, herbs, vegetables, and even small shrubs and trees. Choose plants with similar growth requirements for your container. How you arrange your choices depends on where your container is. If you look at the pot from all sides, the classic approach is to place the taller plant in the center, surround it with shorter mounding plants, and finish with ridged plants along the edges. When viewing from the front, place tall plants in the back, short plants, then ridged plants in front. If you don’t know the design, place the plants on the soil to visualize their placement before you start planting. You can adjust it according to your needs.
A good rule of thumb when choosing plants is to choose “thrillers, fillers, and spillers.” The thriller should be eye-catching, colorful, and the focal point of the container. Take a walk through your local nursery and find out what attracts you. It could be a tall plant, or one with large, showy flowers or interesting foliage. Of all the plants in the container, it should attract the most attention.
Fillers and spillers should have the same growth requirements as the main plant, but may differ in color and shape. Spillers are plants that spill over the edges. Leaves cover the sides of the container and balance the height of the thriller. Spillers are usually planted along the front and sides of the container.
Fill the space between Thriller and Spiller with filler. It usually has more dainty flowers than Thriller and Spiller, is shorter than Thriller and does not drag down the sides of the container, the filler integrates the container garden and supports her two other elements. Examples of fillers and spillers include baby tears, blue star creeper, creeping thyme, bacopa, and Irish moss.
These three elements help organize most containers. However, different locations may require different combinations of elements. Hanging baskets look great with some spills and may not need a chiller or filler. Thrillers like trees and shrubs in large containers may benefit from a spiller, but no filler. .
Planting a container garden is similar to planting a regular garden or flower bed. leave about 1 inch on the It is not necessary to put pebbles on the bottom of the container. Simply lay down mesh or large rocks to cover the drainage holes. Do not pack the soil so that the roots can get air. Gently loosen the roots before placing the plant in the container. Make sure the root ball is covered with about 1/2 inch of soil. Once all the plants are in the container, water until water runs out the bottom of the container. This encourages deeper root growth and helps flush out accumulated salt. We recommend placing a saucer underneath the container to prevent leaks and stains on the surface underneath the container. Standing water can be a haven for disease and pesky mosquito larvae, so be sure to discard the water as soon as possible.
Edible container gardening is a recent trend that uses vegetables and dwarf fruit trees to create beautiful, edible container gardens. Tomatoes, peppers, carrots, lettuce, and beans are some of the vegetables commonly found in container gardens. Dwarf fruit trees such as peaches, apples and oranges can also be planted. Since food production is the goal, larger containers are generally needed. Many popular edible plants and trees require containers that are at least 5 gallons or larger. Five-gallon buckets and reusable sandbags may not look pretty, but they’re cheap and highly productive. Most vegetables and trees need lots of sun and water. Some require a trellis or support system. When using support systems, use heavy weights or heavy containers to prevent tipping. Edible containers are not limited to vegetables and trees, herbs and foliage plants can also be grown in the same container. Flowering plants help attract beneficial insects and pollinators and add attractive color.
Now, here is the information that no one talks about! Outdoor container gardens with annuals need to be repotted each spring. Even perennials may not be cold hardy in containers. A potted shrub or tree should be repotted every 3-5 years to prevent the tree or shrub from becoming root bound. It’s not an easy task!), and the roots and branches need to be pruned. It will grow around and prevent the drainage holes from flattening.
Container gardening has unexpected benefits. In an era of sustainable gardening practices such as plant selection and turf removal, containers are one way to fill the space left over from removed turf. By arranging the design containers, you are truly practicing ‘Central Valley style gardening’.
Choose your location, containers and plants. Experiment with colors, shapes, textures, sizes and shapes. Let the fun begin!