5 Simple Container Garden tips

Although many people simply use filled garden containers on their deck or patio to add impact, they can be used as problem-solvers! Let’s look at 5 tips below…

To start with, regardless of where and how you’re using them, for maximum impact, garden containers of mixed plants should include a “Thriller” (usually a tall plant), a “Filler” (something bushy to fill empty spaces) and a “Spiller” (something that gracefully spills over the pot).

Created by award-winning container designer Todd Holloway, these containers (below) include the 3 essential elements for mixed containers: thriller (Canna Tropicanna); filler (coleus) and spiller (sweet potato vine and calibrachoa).

However, some plants like Tropicanna® cannas with their colourful foliage, the floriferous Flower Carpet® Roses, and the dramatic Festival (Fountain) cordylines can all stand alone in a container and still make a great statement, which makes life even simpler!

Once you’ve created a container, you’ll find plenty of ways to use them to solve an array of garden, deck or landscape problems. Here are 5 simple ideas:

1. Brighten dull spots

Colourful container gardens can be used to fill dull or colourless spots in the garden.

2. The great disguiser!

Containers can be used to cover or take attention away from an unattractive wall or bare spot around a deck or porch.

3. Groupings are great!

By grouping several containers together, you can create a sense of fullness; you can also rotate containers around, depending on what looks best during any particular time of year.