Plants for Containers

More About Plants for Containers

Container gardens offer endless possibilities. Use them wherever you spend a lot of time outdoors to add a splash of color and interest – the porch, balcony or patio, outside of the garage or entryways. They are also a terrific way to add something new to an existing garden if you’ve run out of room to plant. You can even add a few to the vegetable garden. Place the containers individually or in small groupings. They are like the throw pillows of the garden!

Use your imagination! Because container garden plantings are meant to be relatively temporary, they allow you to be super creative…if you don’t like something, you can always change it for a different combination. Use just one plant or combine several different ones for maximum color and texture. We like to mix shrubs and perennials so that something is always changing through the seasons. Or you can change the plants in the containers to reflect the seasons – one planting in the spring-summer, a different combination for the fall and then evergreens for winter color.

All you need is a container with a hole in the bottom for drainage, some good potting soil and a selection of gorgeous plants. If you’ve ever arranged cut flowers in a vase, it’s just as easy to plant a container garden!

Consider the container you are using because you’ll want to emphasize its style. For example, if the planter is a gorgeous color, select flowers and plants with leaves that will complement its color. If the planter has a decorative design or a very formal feel, you may want to try relatively simple plant combinations that are mostly green to allow the planter to take center stage. On the other hand, if the container is fairly plain, you can be as wildly creative as you’d like!