when we opened the new shop at cameron village, we knew we needed to plant to impress. the sidewalk there is flush with vibrant blooming containers outside each store. i sorely lack the green thumb my mother and grandmother had, so i knew we needed to call in backup.
the first step in planning a container garden is to decide where you want it to go. inside or out? sun or shade? pick the spot and monitor the area for a full day to determine how much light your container garden will receive. you will need to choose plants with similar light and water requirements to plant in the same pot.
dare to mix.
the focal area is where the eye is drawn to first. develop focus by using large, coarse, or bright colored plant material in that area.
vary the form of the plant material you choose; use tall linear plant species to add height; mounded species to add mass; and low growing, cascading species to fill in, add depth, and soften the edges of the container.
add coarse, medium, and fine textured plants together. three to five different plant species will achieve and assortment of forms and textures.
repeat color at regular intervals around the outside of a round container or along the length of a long rectangular container. repeat color in several containers to “tie” them together. graceful lines of plant foliage add flow and rhythm.
don’t overcrowd your container. give plants room to grow. use larger and/or more plants in larger containers, and less and/or smaller plants in small containers. a good rule of thumb: the height of the tallest plant should not exceed 1X – 2X the height of the container excluding pedestals.
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