I am always looking for new and creative ideas to use as planters. I can find creative planter ideas on walks in my neighborhood, garden tours, botanical gardens, and even local nurseries. The containers can enhance the look or fade into the background and let the plants take center stage. It all depends on what you want to achieve. Each spring, I enjoy putting my planters together.
I like to have at least one flower that stands out in my pots. You can choose a plant that cascades over the side of the pool, like a petunia or calibrachoa in a bright color, a show-stopper like a dahlia or petunia, or one with an attractive face.
Never underestimate the power and beauty of foliage. Coleus, heucheras, and Rex begonias make my list of favorites depending on whether or not I have sun in space. I like to tuck in edibles inside many of my containers. Lemongrass can be used to replace ornamental or spike grass. The variegated pesto perpetual is an excellent variety of basil. Different flavors of parsley, sage, and creeping rosemary provide texture.
Here are some tips on how to plant a container before we move on to the inspiration
Select good-quality soil for potting. Here are some recipes for different potting mixtures.
This rule is good, especially if your container design skills are new.
Choose plants that are suitable for the environment they will be in.
Feel free to pack the plants, but ensure they have enough room to grow.
You should read the tags on the plants to find out what kind of care they need throughout the growing season. Also, you can see how big and tall the plant will grow.
Fill in any air spaces with extra soil when planting.
Make sure that your pots are drainable.
Remember to hydrate regularly during the long, hot summer days. Pots can quickly dry out. You may have to check your plants as often as twice daily.
Fertilize according to the instructions on the package every few weeks.
Trim back scraggly plants so that they will grow lush and whole again.
When required, deadhead. They are self-cleaning, which is one of the reasons I love them.
The fun part is now. I have gathered some ideas on choosing the right plants and containers.
Choose thrillers, fillers, and spillers
When shopping for multiple plants to be placed in a container, this container design rule is a good one. Please read the tags on the plants to understand how they will grow throughout the season. The show-stopper plant is the thriller, spillers will trail around the pot’s edges, and fillers will cover empty spaces to create a whole arrangement.
Some examples of spillers are creeping Jenny, sweet potato vines, creeping rosemary, and alyssum.
My favorite container arrangement is Supertunias. They are beautiful, fill well, and last through summer and fall. They also self-clean (no deadheading required) and come in gorgeous colors.
You can add height to your arrangement by planting ornamental grasses. You can achieve this by using ornamental grasses. Lemongrass is another edible that I sneak into my garden. Canna lilies and canna are also favorites.
Vertical and hanging planter Ideas
I use every inch of space available for containers. This includes hanging baskets or vertical planters you can attach to walls or fences.
This hanging planter is excellent for annuals that spill over the sides of hens and chicks.
Create a DIY vertical garden shelf to hang on your fence with multiple flower pots.
Shade planters ideas
It can be challenging to find annuals that thrive in the shade. This section of the nursery is always smaller than those for full sun. Shade plants can still make an impact, despite being in a darker location. Rex begonias, hostess, and other shade plants are my favorites. While enjoying Garden Walk Buffalo, I first saw hostesses planted in containers.
Containers with miniature hostas work well in shady spots.
Potscaping is a powerful way to enhance your garden
Before I began working for Canadian Gardening in the ’80s, I had never heard of the term “potscaping.” But I like how green thumbs can use groupings to create a dramatic effect in a room.
Landscape with a variety of plants and containers. You can pots cape a porch, patio, or balcony. Although it may appear effortless in photographs, figuring out the perfect arrangement takes time.
Pots can be added to your garden among perennials. Portulaca is planted in the holes in this strawberry pot.
Add some edibles to your decorative containers
I enjoy planting edibles in pots or on the ground as part of my ornamental garden. Lemon thyme (flat and curly), chocolate mint, creeping rosemary, and lemongrass are some of my container favorites. Swiss chard varieties like ‘Peppermint,’ ‘Rainbow,’ and other ornamental lettuces are available.
Try adding edibles like parsley to your decorative containers.
Add unique foliage to your container arrangements
Planters can be filled with some beautiful foliage. The garden center has a seemingly endless variety of coleus, begonias Rex, Polka Dot Plant, and hostas. They can be a stand on their own or complement your chosen flowers.
Planters can be filled with vibrant foliage that complements your blooms or stand out independently.
Do not be afraid to include perennials in your containers
Perennials can be added to the list of ideas for planters, increasing their variety. I love Heucheras because they are available in many colors – from caramel to purple. When I switch up the container, I leave the plant in the pot or move it to the garden.
Heucheras make great containers, as they are available in many exciting colors. This one is chartreuse.