How to Create a Container Garden

You can easily create a beautiful garden-like atmosphere using nothing but pots and containers. Potted plants may seem like an uninspired alternative to a "real" garden, but they add life and color around the house. For an artful impact, all you need to do is follow some basic rules of design. And with the right pots, soil and plants, you won't need to do much else--container gardening is about as low-maintenance as it gets.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. First impressions. A potted arrangement near the entry of your house immediately draws attention to the front door. Try a larger center pot as the dominant container with a medium and small pot to provide accents on either side.
   
   Suggested plant: Nemesia, this pink plant requires no deadheading and thrives in full sun or partial shade. it will also bloom all season if fed an watered regularly.

2. Create a centerpiece. You can make a big impact with a grouping of small plants that form a low-maintenance centerpiece--great for placement on an outside dining or picnic table. Use similar (but not identical) pots and saucers unified by color, shape and size. Likewise, the plants are different varieties of the same species. Succulents like jade plant and purple aeonium work well for this. They are easy to care for, love the sun and prefer dry soil.

3. Hang your plants. If you are short on surface space, invest in a few hanging plants. Hanging baskets are usually sold in plastic pots with ugly hangers. While the pot is often obscured by leaves and flowers, the hangers remain visible and never seem to be the right length. Cut off the hangers and lace strong nylon cord through the holes in the pot. Knot it well, then hang the plant above eye level, but not so high that you see the bottom of the pot. Suggested plants: Mini petunias are sold under the names like 'Supertunia Mini' and 'Million Bells.' They never need deadheading and can take sun or a mix of sun and shade.

4. Create a path. Plant-lined paths can help link spaces and direct traffic patterns. The best design concept for pathways is repetition, repetition, repetition. Match pots and containers and evenly space them next to each other. Plant with ornamental grass to dramatically accentuate the length of the path. Suggested plants: 'Morning Light' Maidengrass is a great choice because light reflects off each blade. The wind is also a key natural element, adding movement and sound.

Tips & Warnings

• Pots made of lightweight materials (plastic, foam, fiberglass or polyethylene) retain moisture better than unglazed clay and are easier to move.
• If you find a container that is metal and doesn't have a drainage hole, simply use a large nail and hammer a hole in the bottom.

[Willi]

on 2/14/2008 Thanks for these great ideas for using containers in the landscape (instead of just on a deck!). I also love to use containers to define entrances to outdoor rooms by placing matching ones on either side of a pathway.