Container gardens are ideal for those that live in condominiums and apartments but they’re certainly not limited to this type of property. Container gardening has become a big thing regardless of how much space you really have. These beautiful pots and containers can add luxury and unique textile design to your front yard, backyard, or porch. Tubs, half barrels, and large pots filled with flowers at appeal to any type of garden, and they serve a practical purpose as well for those that simply don’t have a lot of space.
Container gardening can add versatility to large gardens as well as small ones. Plants provide instant color or even nutrition if you’re planning on growing vegetables or herbs. They provide a beautiful focal point and can even tie in the architecture of the house. They can be on the ground or on a pedestal, mounted, or hanging from your porch.
The possibilities are endless. You can use a single, large container or arranging groups of pots both large and small on stairways, porches, decks, terraces, or even in the garden itself. Clusters can contain a collection of favorite plants for both ornamental or for nourishment. Here are some key things to keep in mind when designing, building, and planning out your container garden.
Plant size.
The plants you choose for the pot should be at least equal to or bigger or higher than the pot you choose. Choosing a large pot and then putting low growing perennials or even annuals can look odd and unfinished. And you don’t want a dramatic difference in plants such as planting a tall plant in the center with extremely short plants around the bottom. You’ll want to create a cone effect so it draws your eye upwards and comes down in a triangular shape towards the top of the pot or container.
Symmetry.
Symmetry is important for creating the look you want. If you’re using a whiskey barrel that you can look all the way around you want to make sure that all the plans can be seen from every direction. If you are putting the container up against a wall or the side of your house, plant taller plants in the back and cascade the plants by size down towards the front. If you know that nobody’s going to see the backside of the pot, but the taller plants in the back and the shortest plants in the front.
Color.
Color is unique because you can do a couple of different things. You can pick 2 to 3 colors that complement each other or all of the same. What you don’t want is eight different colors in one pot. It simply looks messy and unorganized. It won’t create the feel and the ambiance you’re really looking for.
Drainage.
Drainage is essential. You don’t want the soil to become waterlogged because plants can die. There must be enough space to allow excess water to drain out. Self-watering, double-walled containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets are all available and a useful option for smaller plants that need frequent watering.
Material.
You can use just about anything for container gardens. Cast concrete is the longest lasting and can come in a variety of sizes and styles. Plastic and fiberglass pots are lighter weight and inexpensive but become brittle with age. Polyurethane foam weighs a lot less than terra-cotta and resists chipping and cracking.
Wood is also a natural-looking choice and it can protect roots from rapid temperature swings. You want to choose naturally rot-resistant wood such as cedar or locust or pine treated with a preservative. Don’t use any creosote soaked wood as it can be toxic to your plants and extremely toxic to you should you plant edibles.
Metal is strong but it can conduct heat, which could damage root structures. Terra-cotta pots are extremely versatile and can come in a variety of shapes and styles so we tend to use those the most but, of course, you choose the pots and we do the planting.
Container gardens add a beautiful focal point to any home, flower bed, or yard. They do require a little bit more attention to keep them looking their best. Deadhead and he spent flowers, prune back plants that stop blooming or get a little shaggy and cut back any plants that don’t grow well or that clash with other plants in the pot.
If you’d like us to create beautiful container gardens for your front porch, flowerbeds, or anywhere in your yard give us a call. I’d love to give you a quote about creating the perfect container garden for your home.