Tips for Designing and Planting Container Gardens

Container gardening is simple and fun – you just grow plants in pots instead of in the ground. Get tips for designing and planting container gardens in this Lowe’s video:

Start with a container and make sure it has holes in the bottom for proper drainage; if it doesn’t, a large drill bit should do the trick. Put in potting soil rather than regular soil from your garden or yard as it unlikely to drain as well and lacks the nutrients potted plants need to thrive.

When selecting plants, make sure to read the tags and note the light and water requirements. While spacing is also a consideration, plants are usually spaced closer together in container gardens.

A simple formula for a showy container garden design is to add a thriller, a filler and a spiller.

• Thriller: Tall plant in the middle of the container
• Filler: Plants that work down and around and contrast with the thriller and fill in the pot
• Spiller: Vine that spills over the edge of the pot and makes the container look full and robust

Place the container in that perfect spot that needs something eye-catching, and you’re done. If your container is on a deck or similar surface, you may want to use a saucer to protect the underlying wood.

The joy of container gardening is designing something that works for your space and with your personal style. Here are some ideas:

• Mix many colors and styles for a stunning display.
• Use green plants and/or white flowers only for a cleaner subtle look.
• Grow something edible. Herbs and many vegetables do well in containers and can even be grown indoors; just make sure your window gets a lot of sun.