5 Minute Friday - 6 Tips For Planting Containers
Get The Most From Your Containers!
This week I’m giving you a few tips to help you plant up the best containers you can, no matter where they're going!
These things are all worth thinking about before you start planting, as they'll not only give you the best results, but the plants will love you for it!
1. Where is the container going?
The positioning of your container is going to dictate what you can plant, so figuring this out first is essential. It's no use picking out a bunch of plants you love if they need full sun, and you've only got a shady patio to plant them on!
Figure out your positioning, whether that be in the garden, by the front door, on a patio, and then plan your plants around that!
2. How big is your container?
Containers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, so finding the right size container for your space will once again limit the plants you can pot up. You're going to need to leave room for plants to grow, so make sure you know how big your container is before you over-order plants and cramp them all together!
3. Height and structure matter
When choosing your plants, height and structure matter to a display. If you choose plants that are all the same size and shape, they're going to become a muddled mess. If you choose plants that are too different in size, the container is going to look really strange. What we usually recommend is creating a tiered, sloped approach, with your tallest plants at the back/middle of the container, and the shorter, or trailing plants on the outer edge/front.
4. Don't pick just for flowers!
I know it's tempting to see a flower you like and pick that plant, but remember: no matter how long the flowering period is, flowers are fleeting. That isn't to say ignore them, but just consider foliage and texture too!
Some of our favourite plants for Autumn and Winter containers are ones included almost exclusively for their foliage, so remember to think about that when planning a container!
5. Think about the end result
Don't just select a handful of plants you like and call it a day! Creating a display collection is partially about choosing your favourite plants, but its more about making intentional choices about what is going to work together. Just because you love Rudbeckia and Delosperma doesn't mean the two will work together in a container, so consider their visual compatibility as well as the conditions they require to grow.
6. Think about the care of the plants
Depending on the varieties you buy, many plants are going to require almost completely contradictory care, so make sure you are selecting plants that require the same (or similar) conditions. Planting a drought resistant, low maintenance plant in a container full of non-hardy, water intensive plants is going to result in one or the other dying, so make sure you group together plants that are going to thrive under the same conditions.
Any other questions about planting a container, or gardening in general? Check out our other 5 Minute Friday blogs, or reach out through our social media!
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