Plant Some Pretty Pots

Have you admired beautiful containers full of flowers at a friend’s house and vowed to plant some but never got around to it, or weren’t sure how to choose the right plants? At Lavalette Nursery, we’ll be happy to help you select containers and everything you need to fill ’em up. Although summer has arrived, it’s not too late to plant a container garden … or two … or three.

The first thing you’ll need is a container. The bigger the better. A large container will hold more plants, look more attractive, and need watering less often. Glazed ceramic pots are popular because they come in a variety of colors. Terra cotta pots, wooden half-barrels, hayrack planters and fiberglass containers are commonly used. For a touch of whimsy, use an old boot, a child’s wagon, a deep roasting pan, an old wash tub, etc.

The most important thing about the container is that it have drainage holes of at least 1/2 inch across in the bottom. Cover the holes with a paper coffee filter to hold in the soil.

Fill the container to within 4 to 6 inches from the top with a good quality potting mix. At Lavalette Nursery you’ll find mixes that also contain slow-release fertilizer and a moisture control substance that holds water, releasing it when the plant needs it. Carefully remove the plants from their pots and arrange them in the container, making sure they’re all at the same depth, then fill in between the plants with extra potting soil and water thoroughly.

When selecting plants, you want to strive for various heights, colors and textures. For a container in the sun, choose a bushy plant like geraniums, marigolds or dahlias, then a tall “spiky” plant, and add a couple that will drape over the sides like petunias or sweet potato vines. For texture, try dusty miller or asparagus fern. You can make a container with all pink flowers, for example, or one with only yellow and purple flowers. A large container could hold a half dozen plants with different color flowers. But flowers aren’t necessary at all -- a dramatic container can be created with a tall grass in the center surrounded by trailing ivy. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

However, make sure that all your plants have similar light and water requirements. They’re listed on the plant tags. If your container will be in the shade, fill it with ferns, caladiums and impatiens with a big elephant ear in the center.

Containers look best when they’re stuffed with plants, so don’t be afraid to put them close together. Water the containers when needed -- probably every day during the heat of the summer. Add half-strength liquid fertilizer to the watering can every other time, since container flowers are heavy feeders. Set containers on bricks or blocks -- or those cute “plant feet” -- to allow free drainage.

Once a week, remove the spent flowers to encourage new blooms.