Simply Beautiful Container Gardens

Steps to Simply Beautiful Container Gardens

Container gardens can be a stunning addition to your landscape. Yet they’re surprisingly easy to make. Just follow these steps.

Choose a good location. A container garden can bring interest even to the most ordinary area. Consider:

• Your surroundings.
• Use of the area.
• Sun exposure.

Plan your container garden.

Choose a planter. Consider:

• Size.
• Drainage.
• Watering needs.
• Soil needs.

Decide use of color. You can make a statement or a lovely touch.

• Monochromatic (shades of one color).
• Complementary (opposite hues on color wheel).
• Polychromatic (many colors).

Select plants.

• Choose plants that require similar light: full sun, partial sun, shade.
• Incorporate different leaf shapes, textures and scents.
• Use “thrillers” for height.
• Use “fillers” to fill in the container.
• Use “spillers” to hang over the edges and create a finished look.

Rule of thumb: Your planter should be one-third of the finished container garden’s height.

Care, maintenance and helpful hints.

• Fertilize every 1 - 2 weeks with a water soluble fertilizer.
• Check daily for dryness. Water when needed.
• Cut off old blooms.
• Trim leggy or out of control plants.
• Experiment. Try new plants and new combinations.  

Plant examples

Thrillers

 “Serena” Angelonia

Thunbergia

Fillers

Begonia

Diascia

Geranium

Double Impatiens

Fanfare Impatiens

Nemesia

Petunia Wave

Verbaena

Millet

Pentas

Zinnia

Spillers

Bacopa

For more information, specials, contests, free clinics, paid workshops, expert advice, and to join the Garden Club visit www.mytexasgarden.com.

Download the Simply Beautiful Garden handout.