Articles
Pick Three – A Winning Ticket
for Successful Containers
by Marsha Haefner
as seen in "The Gateway Gardener"
There is no wisdom I can share with you about how to successfully pick three numbers that will put you on Easy Street. Obviously, I’d be living there if I knew! What I canshare is what I have learned from years of experience, plus a lot of advice from other experts on what it takes to plant containers that are exceptional.
Of course, exceptional is truly “in the eyes of the beholder”. But once you’ve covered the basics, (container, location, soil and fertilizer) there are a few more tried and true principles that will take a potted garden from OK to WOW! Specifically, a successful container garden that is truly interesting and dynamic usually includes three major visual elements: a focal point, filler plants and spiller plants around the edges.
The next logical question is, “What plants do I use?” There are so many to choose from! Again, remember the three visual elements, select plants that fit into each of the three categories and you’ll be on your way. Container gardening is a perfect way to try some of the new colors and varieties of plants that can be found each year. If you don’t like something, or it didn’t work out as planned, just change it!
In the lists that follow are a few favorite plants that we have used in our containers, baskets and window boxes. When plants are thought about in general categories as they pertain to container gardening, it becomes a bit easier to edit selections for the three visual elements discussed above.
Tall Upright Plants: Use for a Focal Point
Blooming Annuals:
| Agyranthemum |
Angelonia |
Cannas (dwarf) |
| Celosia |
Dahlias |
Dipladenia w/trellis |
| Geranium |
Hibiscus |
Mandavilla w/trellis |
| Non-Stop Begonia |
Osteospermum |
Pentas |
| Salvia |
Thumbergia w/trellis |
|
Tall Foliage:
| Caladiums |
Crotons |
Dracaena Spike |
| Elephant Ears |
Persian Shield |
Purple Fountain Grass |
Perennials:
| Echinacea |
Hosta |
Leucanth Snow Lady |
| Salvia May Night |
Carex |
|
Fillers for Color and Texture:
Blooming Annuals:
| Begonias |
Calibrachoa |
Impatiens |
| Fuschias |
Geraniumns |
Euph Diamond Frost |
| New Guinea Imp |
Lantana |
Mexican Heather |
| Dalphin Violet |
|
Supertunia |
Foliage Fillers:
| Coleus |
Dusty Miller |
Ferns-Boston, Table |
| Helichrysum |
Hyopesties |
Sprengeri |
Perennials:
| Blue Fescue |
Dianthus Firewitch |
Dianth.Cranberry Fire |
| Heuchera |
Heucherella |
Selected Daylilies:
Happy Returns
Purple D’Oro
Rosey Returns
Stella D’Oro |
Spillers for the Edges:
Blooming Annuals:
| Bacopa |
Diascia |
Ivy Geranium |
| Lobelia |
Nemisia |
Hybird Portulaca |
| Torenia |
Verbena |
Vinca-trailing |
Foliage that Spills:
| Bridal Veil |
Dichondra |
Glacier Ivy |
| Pothos |
Purple Heart |
Swedish Ivy |
| Swt Potato Vine |
Vinca Vine |
|
Perennials:
| Ajuga |
Creeping Jenny |
Hedra Ivy |
| Lamium |
Lamiastram ‘Herm Pride’ |
|
| Sedum Angelina |
Verbena Homestead purple |
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These are just a few of the thousands of plants to choose from! If you’re looking for some ideas check-out the Proven Winners website at www.provenwinners.com. Or visit your favorite garden center and see what the experts do. They’re both great places to become inspired when planning a container garden.
Keep in mind there are really no “rules” to this game. Just have some fun adding color and interest with your container garden creations. Enjoy this beautiful time of the year!
Copyright © 2008 - Marsha Haefner. All rights reserved.
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