How to Design a Potted Garden

How to design a potted garden (This garden is all in pots.)

Creating a garden with plants in pots can be an art in itself. You can use this technique in gardening in small spaces, patios, or as a focal point in a larger area. Here are some ideas you can use for designing your own potted garden.

Instructions

1. 

   First decide where you want to build your potted garden. Take into consideration the view where you will build your garden. If there is a wall or background of plants, you will want your garden to take advantage of it. For example, a background of a white wall will offset colorful dark pots and contrasting leaves and flowers. A background of dark foliage plants in the garden will make a perfect backdrop for whites, light colors or sparkling metallic colors. Remember you can use the pots and the plants, both, for effect.

2. 

   Give some thought to your containers. All the containers can be of the same style or color to create one type of picture. Or you can use different containers. To get the best look you will want some continuity to your choice of pots. You might choose different styles and colors of all Oriental pots. Or maybe try varied pot shapes all with painted flower themes. To use existing or old pots that are all different, try using pot covers like baskets or twine raffia, rope, or yarn around your containers. Or try sitting the pots inside aluminum tubs, watering cans and other interesting containers to cover your pots with a decorative theme.

3. 

   Sit your pots at different levels and use plants with different habits of growth. A low pot will look great with tall, spiky leaves while a pot on a pedestal may show off well with a trailing plant to cascade over the sides. Make the set-up part of your design. If you don't have exciting looking plant stands, consider buying some. There are wonderful choices to appeal to just about any taste available in shops and on the internet. Or blend in less interesting plant stands with piles of different sized rocks or stacks of bricks to build an artistic, sculptural environment. You can opt to pass on the plant stands all together and raise your pots on different heights of cinder blocks or pieces of old railroad ties, for example.

4. 

   Other décor that can spice up your potted garden are pieces of drift wood, logs, pieces of bamboo, metal poles, pieces of colored glass, bent screening or any other materials you find interesting. You can also incorporate statues or garden décor that can make your potted garden into a place of whimsy, fantasy or maybe a wild animal- themed garden.

5. 

   Building a potting garden is a chance to create your own garden sculpture. Your garden is limited only by your imagination.

Resources

• Landscape design and gardening information
• eHow Spring Guide