Full-Sun Container Planting Ideas

Gardens can be planted in any size or shape container.

Container gardens add plants to an area that will not support growth. Patios, graveled pathways, even shopping malls have all benefited from having the beauty of plants and flowers grace their areas. A way for apartment dwellers to enjoy the benefits of fresh vegetables, herbs and flowers, container gardeners take special care to match their plants to the conditions they inhabit. Light is especially important to consider when choosing plants.

Vines

Verbena likes full sun and provides a cascade of color over the edge of a container.

A well-planned container garden includes many different heights of plants. Vines allow the visual effect of the garden to extend past the rim of the container itself. Vines, both flowering and non-flowering, should be planted at rim's edge and allowed to cascade over the side of the container. Flowering vines like verbena and million bells produce colorful flowers that are brilliant in full sun. Foliage is also available in different textures and colors. Diochondra, lotus and sweet potato vine provide different colors from silver to purplish-black.

Height

Plant flowers and plants that grow tall to add height.

Give height to your container garden by adding plants that grow tall into the center of a round container or to the very back of a planter resting against a wall. Tall plants will attract attention to your garden and provide a background for other plants in the container. Dracaena, for example, grows to about 24 inches and features tall spiky leaves in dark green. Full-sun variegated versions are also available. Additional interest can also be generated by using clump grasses like Red Fountain Grass or spears of flowers as in Angelonia.

Color

Geraniums are excellent flowering plants for containers.

The middle section of the container is where a gardener has more choice. Full-sun containers should be planted with flowers that enjoy a lot of sunlight. Geraniums, zinnias, petunias, salvia and marigolds are all excellent flowering plants that can take both heat and strong sunlight. Dead-heading the flowers as the blooms begin to fade will encourage further bloom and allow the plant to provide color the entire season.

Foliage

Dusty Miller's silver leaves add interest to a container garden.

Foliage is an important part of any container garden as it provides the background for highlighting blossoms. Incorporating foliage plants featuring different colors and textures helps create interest. The silver leaves of Dusty Miller or setcresea's beautiful purple completes and compliments full-sun flowering plants like the petunia while still tolerating the full or partial sun.

References

• Weekend Gardener: Container Gardening
• Flower Garden News: Container Gardening

Resources

• Homestead Gardens: Container Gardening