If you’re low on outdoor space, creating container gardens might be the perfect solution. Planting multiple varieties of plant in the same container saves space and gives you the opportunity to flex your creativity.
However, there’s more to container gardens than just sticking several plants in one pot. If you want to design beautiful and healthy container gardens, here is a simple guide to help:
The secret to designing a great container garden is the three plant ingredients: thrillers, fillers and spillers.
Thrillers
Thrillers are the dramatic and showstopping centerpiece plants. The best thriller plants have an upright growth pattern that allows them to tower over their container neighbors and serve as a vibrant focal point.
While a thriller plant can be anything you deem worthy of the spotlight, some great examples include colorful caladiums, towering elephant ears and vibrant black-eyed Susans.
Fillers
Fillers are the middle and low-growing plants that create a supportive foundation for the entire ensemble. As the name suggests, a filler plant’s purpose is to make the container garden lush and full.
Some ideas for filler plants include foliage plants like begonias, fluffy ferns and impatiens.
Spillers
Finally, spillers are plants that spill or creep out over the sides of the container. Spiller plants are typically sprawling or trailing plants that add a third dimension to the container aesthetic.
For spiller ideas, try petunias, sweet potato vine or trailing ivy. If you’re making a hanging container garden, don’t be afraid to add more than one spiller for a more dramatic effect.
All three pieces of the container puzzle fit together to make beautiful and exciting displays. In addition to aesthetics, striking the right balance between each type will also help you avoid plant issues like overcrowding plant roots and lack of airflow.
Container gardening provides myriad opportunities for creative combinations of plants. However, it’s crucial to know the needs of each plant before adding them into the mix. It’s best to choose plants with similar requirements for sun, water and climate to ensure they last and appear at their best.
Don’t forget to think beyond flowers, too. You can create incredible gardens with foliage and ornamental grasses. Try combining different leaf shapes and textures for maximum aesthetic appeal. For a functional and sustainable container garden, try growing herbs and vegetable plants together.
These are just a few tips and tricks to help you come up with your own amazing container garden ideas. Whether you’re a fan of small or large plants, you can make container gardening work for you.
For over 25 years, Mike Johnson, has help Buyers and Sellers in Greater New Haven, and across the state turn their dreams into reality. TAJ REAL ESTATE, LLC is a full service firm specializing in Short Sale, First Time Home Buyers, Sale and marketing of existing Home and Condos, Rentals, FHA 203K Sale and Renovation of Distress Properties, and Investor Purchase.
Mike Johnson is a graduate of Fairfield University, and a resident of Connecticut for over 38 years. He served on the Board of Directors for Hill Health Corporation from 1976 to 1984, has served on the Professional Standard Committee of the Greater New Haven Board of Realtors for over 8 years, served as Board of Directors for that organization from 2009-2012, and on the Farmington Canal Committee for over 10 years.
Mike possesses a high degree of knowledge, experience and integrity, and strives for excellence, as such creating a reputation second to none. Whether your Home is under water (owing more than the mortgage balance), or behind on your mortgage and facing foreclosure, your solution is only a phone call away. Pick up the phone and put your troubles in the hands of a experienced Realtor.
