These Are Martha Stewart's Top Tips for Container Gardening

If anyone knows all about container gardening, it's Martha. In Martha Knows Best, she shares her top tips for planting pots and how to create a visually appealing garden using planters.

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August 10, 2020

Martha Stewart has hundreds of potted plants on her 150+ acre farm, so if anyone knows how to master planting containers, it's Martha. On Martha Knows Best, she shares tips on how to plant pots and create a visually appealing outdoor space using containers. Below, we share our favorite tips and planters from Martha's collection on Amazon.

Martha Stewart's farm, as seen on Martha Knows Best.

Martha Stewart's farm, as seen on Martha Knows Best

Martha Stewart's farm, as seen on Martha Knows Best

How Martha Plants Pots

Make sure you have planters, bubble wrap, clay shards, landscape cloth, soil, plants, fertilizer and spacers.

First, add a layer of bubble wrap to the bottom of the planter. This will fill the planter so you don't have to add as much soil. Next, place gravel or clay shards to help with drainage. Add a layer of landscape cloth on top of that. (It lets water drain but prevents soil from passing through the drainage holes of the container. Plus, it prevents the container from deteriorating.) Add the soil and plants, and use a hori-hori knife to push the landscape cloth down into the container. Sprinkle some organic fertilizer on top and finish with gravel or other decorative rocks and pebbles. Lastly, hide spacers underneath the container for extra drainage.

Martha's Method for Creating a Beautiful Potted Planter

To create a visually-appealing planted container, Martha suggests using the "Thrill, Fill and Spill" method.

Thrill: Add an eye-catching plant that will be the focal point.
Fill: Add smaller plants that add mass and color.
Spill: Add plants that spill over the edges of the container.

To complete your garden, Martha suggests using containers in the same color family and adding them on both sides of pathways, stairs and throughout your outdoor space. Check out our favorite planters from Martha's collection, available on Amazon.

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