Container Gardening Tips – Plan and Choose Plants

Creating a container oasis is easy and fun but will be most successful when planned. As the experienced gardener knows just about any type of container can be used, it’s just a matter of working with the existing area or landscape. Choosing the plants requires that the gardener has planned his project or at the very least has an excellent visual plan.

Making a container garden is a bit like trying to determine which came first the chicken or the egg. In planning the container sizes and locations the gardener also needs to consider the plants. Will the plants be annuals, perennials, small shrubs, herbs, shady plants, full sun…get the idea? Usually plants can be found for any type of pot and locations but do keep plants in mind when planning and buying pots.

Visualize how plants and containers will be arranged; use clusters of varying sizes and colors to create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere as a backdrop to the plants. Once the plan for the containers and their location has been made it is time to plan the garden plants.

Mix and Match Plants

Select a range of plants with various growing and bloom times to extend the colorful growing season. Just as great works of art require preparation and planning so does the garden masterpiece. Don’t make the costly mistake of rushing to the garden supply center and begin grabbing plants for the container garden. The beautiful colors, blossoms, and scents can quickly end in plant tragedy if the plants are not selected with planning and care.

Container locations will impact plant selection – Shady plants might be needed for areas that are on recessed porch areas while container placed on steps might need more sun tolerant plants. Knowing the planned location is a must before buying plants for the container garden.

Select plants that need the same amounts of water – Don’t mix plants that need daily watering in the same container with plants that need to dry out before re-watering. Save plant life and frustration by researching plants that will cohabitate nicely.

Look at plant heights – Plan on planting varying heights in the pots; taller growth plants to the sides or back and working plant height to trailing or low growing plants in the front of pots.

Plan bloom times and growing seasons – Mixing in spring bulbs with summer annuals and green ground covers will make the containers colorful year round. When planning flowering plants, look for different growing seasons, bloom times and mixing both perennials and annuals for longer lasting color and impact.

More information on choosing which plants present the planned picture read Choosing Plants For the Flowerbed. In addition there are many resources that can be used such as the local area extension office or even the Farmer’s Almanac. Now that the plants are planned it is time to prepare the pots for planting in Container Gardening Tips – Choosing and Mixing Soil.