Color Creations Container Gardens

Steps to 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.
•    Consider Orchids, Miniature Roses or Hydrangeas for Mother’s Day Containers.

NOTE: Since orchids are planted in a special orchid potting mix, place
the entire potted orchid in the larger container. The non-orchids in your container garden will be in regular potting soil.

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.
•    Check daily for dryness. Water when needed.
•    Cut off old blooms.
•    Experiment. Try new plants and new combinations.
•    If a plant isn’t working or growing, replace it.
•    Watch for common pests. Apply Green Light Neem Oil or Bioganics spray if needed.

Plant examples

Thrillers
Hydrangeas
Miniature Roses
Orchids

Fillers
Begonia
Diascia
Geranium
Double Impatiens
Sunpatiens
Nemesia
Petunia Wave
Verbena
Pentas
Zinnia

Spillers
Bacopa