How About New Container Garden Ideas?

It’s planting season! Those containers garden pots on my deck are screaming to be filled. Some that will be filled with herbs. Others will be filled with vegetables. Yet, a few with flowers.

With prominent deer in my yard, many of those containers will continue their beauty on the deck. Those out in the landscape and within close proximity to those critters will be filled with “deer resistant” foliage and flowers. Those things that they walk right past…I’m in for that.

Inspiration for Container Gardening was in full bloom this week!

This week the Paducah Garden Club is hosting a Garden Club of America Flower Show. This arrangement was at the entry way of the event. Even in 80+ degree heat and humidity, it was hanging on…

The floral design even spilled over to local businesses…

Local florists decorated the outside of downtown businesses. The arrangements were lovely.

The Flower Show theme, “Belong to Your Place- the Wisdom of Wendell Berry” was amazing.

Oh, my goodness!
Beautiful floral arrangements, table scapes, water floral designs, and container gardens filled the Carson Center.

Works of photography, needle arts, horticulture, and floral designs brought entries and awards that were shared and loved by all.

Even tablescapes with amazing floral centerpieces were beautifully set.

To inspire me more was their beautiful container gardens…

I love the variety of ferns in this one..

How cute is this fairy garden? So…

How is your container garden looking?

Here are some tips that have helped me get started in filling my containers. Basic guidelines that help in pulling it all together.

TIP 1- Plant perennials in containers to come back each year.

I love having containers filled with perennials that just return and add beauty without any work each year.
When I learned to plant hostas in large perennials, I was in love.

Since hostas are a salad buffet for the deer, placing them into a container garden setting was perfect to take them away from the landscape.

There are lots of hostas in beds in the yard, but deer repellent keeps them safe if we spray often enough.

Annual filled container gardens are always fun.

This year I took a free fairy garden class at our local extension office and came away with the sweetest pot of annuals with the gravel and figurines to make it perfect.

Just click on affiliate links below to shop what helps make that fairy garden even more fun. No extra cost to you! Just may help this blog cover costs of creating and sharing with you.

TIP 2- Add moss to cover the dirt in your container gardens.

This is a new one that I have recently begun using. Moss simply makes your containers look finished. Not only does moss add beauty, but it also holds moisture in so that it doesn’t evaporate as easily. A win win for me–especially for plants that love wet feet.

TIP 3- Plant plants together that like the same growing conditions..for example, sun, shade, less or lots of water.

Plant plants in containers that work well together.

Find the herbs that you love to use or grow and research to see what herbs play well together and beneficial together.

Here are a few that work well planted in the same container:

• Basil, cilantro and tarragon love moisture and can be planted well together.
• Mints can be planted together.
• Drought tolerant Mediterranean plants like rosemary, sage, thyme, lavender, marjoram and oregano enjoy being planted together.
• Basil is great planted with tomatoes.
• Marigolds are also great planted in containers with tomatoes to reduce bugs.
• Lemon verbena and lemon thyme complement each other well. Lemon thyme helps the lemon verbena retain moisture and they both smell divine together.

Pictured above is a container garden created by Pamela Crawford with herbs that grow well together.

Consider their growth patterns, too. Will it stay beautiful in that planter? Will one plant overtake others? A little research goes a long way when planting to make sure that what you envision actually will stay beautiful as they grown.

TIP 4- Always use the rule of thriller, filler and spiller in planting your containers.

Rule of 3 types of plants in containers is one to remember.

Three types of plants in one container always add beauty and variety.

• Thriller plants add height and focus to the container, such as, spikes and tall plants.
• Filler plants fill in the container with lushness and beauty. Things like your favorite geraniums or flowering plants.
• Spiller plants are those that spill out and overflow the sides of the container, such as, ivy and plants that vine out.

Here’s a great spring illustration of the three planted together.

TIP 5- Make conscious decisions of colors that you bring together in planters.

Look for favorite colors of plants.

Some of you may love to have a color scheme together for your container garden planters. Others may love a mixture of colors varying throughout the garden with your favorite plants.

Whichever type you are, simply select colors of plants that look beautiful together.

Walk around the garden center or nursery to find plants that again have similar growing conditions, but whose colors and growing rates will do well together.

There is an art form to container gardening…

Making choices of the containers, how to fill them and where to place them matters.

First, select the best container for function and beauty.

Watering needs are a great consideration for your containers. Whether you use self watering containers or a schedule of watering by hand, keep in mind what those plants need.

Pick favorite plants to fill and grow together.

Your next step is making decisions of right soil to make those plants flourish.

Then make a decision of where they will all fit into your landscape, deck or patios.

To find the best in container gardening fun…check out this post here.

I’m always a fan of Pamela Crawford’s container gardens books! She is amazing!

Just click on the photo to shop the book!

Have you made decisions for all of your container gardening?

If you are like me and need more inspiration for container gardening, click on the links from my friends here. Great ideas that will help guide and inspire you.

• Love the inspiration Kippi is sharing about container gardens.

• Marie is sharing all about creating stunning container gardens.

• My friend, Kimberly, is sharing how to grow lavender…one of my favorites.

• Lynne is sharing how to grow a full and beautiful flower box.

• I can’t wait to read all about Rebecca’s window boxes.

• Sonya has a great post on creating a container flower garden for a small porch.

Since everyone puts containers together differently, its always amazing to see everyone’s selections.

How is your garden coming? I’d love to know in the comments.

Happy Gardening, friends!