Written and edited by Tammy 29th November 2023
Growing plants in pots or containers is a fantastic alternative if you haven't got a lot of space or perhaps your soil conditions are less than ideal. Maybe you live in a rental property and there's no option to plant things in the ground, and additionally to that, you don't want to leave your plants behind when you go. Let's face it, gardening can be very rewarding but it's not a cheap hobby!! Either way, with so many beautiful pots and containers to choose from now days, you're only limited by your own imagination!
You've heard of the concept 'Thrill, fill 'n' spill'?
The idea is that within the pot or container you have a larger, tall feature plant, it's the 'icing on the cake'. The filler is exactly that, something or multiple things to fill in the rest of the pot surrounding or beside your feature plant, and finally the spiller is something cascading, spilling out over the edges and completing the look.
Take a look at the wine barrel that's on my front veranda. The feature plant, (the thrill) is the standard Weeping Cherry tree.
At the base of the weeping cherry, I've got some burgundy pansies and chrysanthemums for a pop of colour, these are my fillers that serve to fill in the container and make it look full.
The spiller element would be the Lobelia that tends to overflow out over the edges of the wine barrel (when I'm not rimming it back).
Tip #1 -Container selection
Look around for a pot or container that inspires and 'calls' to you. When you find that right pot, you'll begin to envisage what will suit it.
Think will it compliment the style of my existing garden? Perhaps you have a rustic inspired cottage garden, an old vintage laundry trough or cast iron bath-tub might look the part filled with herbs and a few cascading annuals. You could utilise a large upright hollow log, a bird bath, or almost anything you can get your hands on really.
Tip #2 - Location location
Where you plan to locate your pot will have a baring on the type of plants you can select. If it's to go in a shady spot that receives shade most of the time you'll need to choose shade loving plants.
Tip #3 -Styling
Consider groupings. You wouldn't place just one cushion on your bed or couch, you would have multiple in contrasting but complimentive colours shapes and sizes.
A collection of three identical pots in three different sizes will have more impact than just one pot on its own.
Perhaps a row of large rectangular or square planters along a fenceline in a pool area.
Tip #4 -Drainage
Drainage is cruicial. Without adequate drainage you could risk all your time and money going down the drain with your plants potentially drowing or suffering root rot. Particularly if you're seting up large pots or containers, make sure your pot is up on pot feet or even a plant caddy so it can drain freely.
Tip #5 -Plant requirements
 Try to choose and plant together plants with similar water requirements. Planting succulents amongst ferns and shade loving plants will see the succulent potentially rot from too much water and similarly, a Helichrysum would quite possibly struggle with the little amount of water required for a planter of full sun succulent type plants.
Tip #6 -Plant sizes & dimentions
Take note of the suggested height and width on the description labels when selecting plants.
Plant your tallest plant towards the back of your container, with your mid sized plants in the mid ground with your smallest ground cover type plants out towards the edges to be seen and not hidden by the taller selections.
Tip #7 - Mix it up
Whilst trying to keep plants with similar requirents together, still try to be a little adventurous. Play with contasting colours and textures of foliage. Mix it up a little. Have some tall slender dark green strappy foliage, something soft grey and feathey and then a splash of something bold and colourful.
Tip #8 - Sometimes 'less is more'
The old saying 'Sometimes less is more' has some credability. If it starts to become a little confusing or overwhelming to select the varieties of plants or how many to display in your collection just take a step back for a moment and remember the saying 'sometimes less is more'.
Having too much for your eye to be drawn to can then sometimes loose it's wow factor. Simplicity is often the winner.
There's still a few weeks left to go to jazz up things in the garden before the Christmas guests arrive. Why not find yourself a new pot or container, or maybe a few, and set yourself the challenge of creating a loving container garden.
Happy gardening!😘🎄🌸
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