Landscape designer, Kirsty MacLeod of Harmonia, is passionate about container gardening. Part of its appeal is that in a matter of minutes you can create an instant garden. Portable, containers can be moved to anywhere needed in the garden to add a splash of color. She shared the following advice with Williamstown Green Thumbers:
1. Any plant can at some stage of its life be grown in a container, regardless of its ultimate natural size.
2. Annuals make excellent seasonal displays. Nothing says spring more than a pot of pansies or tulips.
3. Use herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and even small trees for a long lasting effect in pots or containers.
4. Edible plants can be successfully incorporated into containers. Herbs make a wonderful addition to culinary endeavours. A pot of fragrant herbs placed near a kitchen door is especially convenient.
5. Containers are great for where space is limited, such as a balcony of an apartment.
6. Any receptacle that can hold soil can be used as a container provided it has drainage holes. Let your imagination soar!
7. Containers provide an excellent way of creating seasonal focal points.
8. Annuals planted tightly will deplete soil nutrients quickly, making fertilizing important
9. Containers can be moved around to create new vignettes every season.
10. Small containers look better in groups of 3 or more.
11. Large containers can be placed on their own. A container placed near a front entrance or back door is always welcoming.
12. Vary the textures to make the combination of plants you choose dynamic. Think of adding exotic houseplants to your creations.
13. Use plants to mimic the shape of the container to create a balanced composition.
15. A foolproof recipe for successful container gardening is the combination of thrillers (plants that provide continuous color such as geraniums, petunias, impatiens or begonias), fillers (grasses, ferns or coleus) and spillers (trailing plants such as ivies and potato vines). Try creating your own creation this spring!
