At The Bulb Shoppe at Brent and Becky’s, we have a wide assortment of potted bulbs, perennials and even some annuals to choose from to make beautiful patio containers to enjoy for the rest of the summer and into the fall.
Mixed containers of plants can be a great way to enjoy a pop of color in the yard, on your deck or patio, or even at your front door. One of the most common formulas to create eye-catching containers is the ‘thriller, filler, spiller’ concept. Your thriller is generally a taller plant that acts as the focal point of the container; the spiller is the anchor which ‘spills’ over the side of the pot, and the filler brings substance and volume. Mixing bulbs, perennials and annuals can make for interesting and attractive container combinations. Earlier in the spring, you can add bulbs to the container and have them grow and fill in among the other plants. But this time of year, you will want to have the bulbs already growing and can mix and match in the container for instant gratification. At The Bulb Shoppe at Brent and Becky’s, we have a wide assortment of potted bulbs, perennials and even some annuals to choose from to make beautiful patio containers to enjoy for the rest of the summer and into the fall.
First, you will need to choose the size and color of your container. These are both important steps
before choosing the plant material to make sure that all components will fit the size of the area you want to fill and go along with your color scheme. The size of the container will also dictate the size, number, and variety of plants to be chosen. Container gardening is a little different than planting in the garden. If you are planting in the ground, you will likely want to space your plants further apart. But, when it comes to container planting, you want to make more of a focal impact and can put the plants closer together so that they will fill the container with leaves and flowers.
Next, it is time to choose your plant material. There is so much to choose from but can be easily narrowed down by your sunlight or shade requirements for where you will put the container and by your color scheme. Growing bulbs in containers are a way to add color and interest to the container. Some wonderful bulb plants to consider are calla lilies, pineapple lilies, Asiatic or Oriental lilies, begonias, caladiums, dahlias and oxalis. We like to use oxalis in most containers as it is short and fills in covering any exposed soil that might still show through. Most perennials can give you the thriller or filler aspect of the container. Some great plants to consider would be allium, agastache, echinacea, veronica, heuchera, ferns, Achillea, hosta, hibiscus, butterfly bush, lavender, and many others. Annuals can also be used to give some color to the container, consider marigolds, zinnias, or dianthus. Just make sure when pairing these plants together, that all the plants in the container will do well in the same light requirements of full sun, part shade or shade. At The Bulb Shoppe, we can give you some guidance in choosing your plants to put together a container that will suit the area that you would like to fill.
Finally, it is time to put your container together. This is the fun part in choosing the arrangement of the plants, as each container you construct is your own artistic masterpiece. You will want to be sure to use a potting soil consisting of good things like compost, worm castings, and kelp meal to give your plants the nutrients they need to thrive. Decide on the arrangement of the plants by their size and how you would like them to fit into the container. You will want to put the plants in the container at the same depth they are at in their current pots. Loosen the roots a bit to encourage them to fill in the new container. Water the container well once all your plants are placed. Sit back and enjoy!