Spring Container Planting
Sick of looking at those empty planters on your front step yet? Gone are the aromatic greens of holidays past, what's left is the empty and lifeless containers beckoning for fresh Spring blooms. We hosted my daughter's First Holy Communion party at our home this past weekend which had me rolling the dice on planting mine a little early. Today I'm sharing my process for doing so and tips & tricks I've learned along the way.
I plant my containers 3 times each year: Spring, Fall (mums) and Winter (holiday greens). Planting them adds up in a hurry, especially if you had the bright idea to double your number of planters from 2 to 4 like I did. However, when I drive past homes, their containers are often one of the first places my eye rests. Rather than planting a ton of annuals sporadically throughout our yard, I like to cluster the color and texture right at the door. I feel like I get the most bang for my buck this way and the containers give the most presence to the entry, drawing guests in with their color and fragrance.
Theme
My first step when planting each Spring is to decide what sort of vibe I'm going for. It can certainly be as simple as putting a hardy flower like pansies in and letting them bubble over with blooms all summer, but if you like playing around with texture and height, it's worth doing a little research before you go. I typically start with Pinterest and do a 'front porch planters' or 'container garden flowers' search. If you have a specific plant you know you want to use, include that in your search, like 'fern planters.' Save a few images you see and love and bring them with you to the garden center to help steer your decision making.
Ask For Help
The first thing I do when I arrive at the garden center is ask for help. Often you pay a premium at local nurseries vs super stores like Home Depot's Garden Center, but a higher initial investment can often save you money in the long run. I've had it happen to me more than once that the arrangement I came up with on my own went sour when one plant took off growing and killed the other plants. Or where as the plants matured, the arrangement suddenly looked lopsided or overly droopy. While you may have a knack for putting together color and texture combinations, if you don't know the best plants for sun/shade or how they will mature, the pros can help steer you in the right direction.
I like to start by showing them my inspiration photos, telling them about the size of pot I'm planting, where it sits, the type of light it gets, etc. From there, have them walk you through and show you plants with a similar feel to your inspiration photo that are suited to your growing conditions.
Don't Be Afraid To Make Multiple Trips
This year, for example, I was really feeling the idea of a topiary planter. While I went back and forth about what to put around the base and the best size for my facade, I knew topiaries would play a part in the overall vision. I decided to start by purchasing my staple pieces, which in my case I narrowed down to 2 eugenia topiaries and 2 star jasmine.
I decided to go home and plant those first and get a feel for what else it needed. Don't be afraid to make multiple trips - there is definitely an element of layering when building a container. Give yourself the freedom to add as the design evolves.
Things To Consider
When I'm selecting plants for my containers, aside from general growing conditions, I like to consider the following:
Leaf size: if all of the leaves on the various plants you select are the same size, the overall look can be too busy. Select a variety of leaf styles to add interest.
Height: selecting plants that will have varying heights gives a container dimension and keeps color and texture visible from the street.
Shape: depending on the season, I often like having a plant or two that will spill over the edge of my containers - particularly in the Fall. Creeping Jenny is one of my favorite plants for achieving this look. Consider the overall shape you want for your arrangement and which direction you want new growth to be heading.
Here is some inspiration for you if you are planning to do some container planting over Mother's Day weekend.
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Don't be afraid to keep it simple. Sometimes simplicity adds an element of sophistication.
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I started my search this year with this as my inspiration.
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However, with 4 pots to plant, I needed to have another idea for the two additional pots that would compliment the topiaries without being overly fussy. I fell so hard for this jasmine, just loving how fragrant it is while standing up sort of sculptural like.
I like how it played with the topiary mimicking height while offering a new shape, but staying consistent with color to tie the two looks together.
With the topiaries and jasmine as my 'staple pieces', I first planted those to see what was left to be desired. I had a nice little helper too.
The topiaries were definitely screaming for something at their base, and I took a cue from my inspiration image to keep with the green and white theme, with just the tiniest hint of deep purple.
The white flowers are bacopa and will evolve into a fluffy, cascading flower.
The purple flowers are violas in the deepest plum shade I could find.
I have to say I really like how it turned out.
I like a tailored looking garden, nothing to whimsical or wispy. I like the height and presence it gives the entry without being too colorful. While I often find myself drawn to the bold shades of colorful Spring pansies, I feel the high contrast of my exterior lends itself to something less playful. It's been a lesson in restraint, but one that is paying off with this fresh look.
I'd love to hear your tips and tricks for planting your own containers. Any go to plants you can't pass up? You can get a peek back at my Spring planters last year in this post - similar color scheme with a totally different look.