Container gardening is more popular than ever. You can use many creative combinations to give pots color and pizzazz. For example, you can color-coordinate your pots and flowers.
For instance, for a blue-green pot, you can use strawflower (Helichrysum), lotus vine and blue oatgrass. For a purple pot, try brachycomb, spiderwort and verbena. For a yellow pot, plant Incarvilla and vinca vine, and for salmon you can use verbena. Grayish foliage can highlight the bronze color of a copper boiler, and for picking up the color of the patina, huechera and sedum.
Even if you can't match the pattern, you can use colors to contrast. Bring the pot with you while shopping at the garden center if possible. Antique stores are a good place to find containers.
Fill the container one-quarter full with potting soil. You can add water polymers to the soil to help plants thrive on hot summer days.
Now you're ready to pack in the plants, starting with the tallest plant first. Then pack in the annuals, mixing colors and textures as you go. Just be sure to add the trailing plants to the outside edge. You may want to do a little asymmetrical designing. In this case, you don't want to put the tallest plant in the center.
Then fill any openings with soil. Keep the pot watered and remember to give it a good feeding once a week with a water-soluble fertilizer.
Guests Matt Phillips
Container Gardening Expert
Black's Nursery
15743 N. Hudson Blvd.
Lakeland, MN 55043
Phone: 651-436-6799
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