Tips on Creating Beautiful Planters this Season

Consider your decor style, stick with plants that are right for your site and don't be afraid to experiment.

You see them everywhere, at the garden shop, in your neighbor's yard and bringing a spot of seasonal beauty to downtown storefronts. Those beautiful planters full of flowers seem so haphazardly perfect, almost as if no thought at all were put into creating them. But designing a planter that looks gorgeous and stays healthy actually requires a bit of planning. Before you head out to your local garden center, take a look at our tips for creating planters with pizazz.



Pick A Pot
Selecting the right container is the first step in building a beautiful planter. Start by taking a good look at where the planter will be located. A planter at the home's entrance should complement the general style or decor of the house. You may love that purple pot with the pink butterflies, but does it fit with the look of your home's exterior? Containers can blend in or provide a welcome pop of color to a drab entryway; the size, shape and color of a container is an important part of the overall design of the planter. Make sure yours is a good fit for its location. And of course, any pot you choose must provide proper drainage for healthy plants.


Use plants with the same growing requirements.


Sun Or Shade?
The key to successful container planting is to choose plants that have the same growing requirements. Read the plants labels and talk to knowledgeable staff at your garden center for more information. When combining plants, consider each specimen's needs for sun, water, soil type, drainage and growth habits. 

Size And Shape
Now that you've narrowed down the plant choices to what will thrive in your site, it's time to start designing. Consider the structure you want your planter to take. Do you want it tall and lean, full and sprawling or something in between? A common rule of thumb is to include a "thriller, filler and spiller" in each planter. A thriller is the tallest plant in the pot that has either dramatic foliage or blossoms, a filler is a background plant that quickly spreads out to make the planter look full and a spiller trails over the side of the pot. However, some of the most striking planters contain only a single specimen. Plants with interesting textures and colors may look best when planted alone.


Group pots with single specimens for interest.

The number of options for making a planter can be intimidating, and the lure of pretty flowers can totally undo the best of intentions. To help stay on track, take some notes to the garden store that remind you of the essentials. Remember your general decor style, stick with plants that are right for your site and don't be afraid to experiment with colors and textures to build your own sensational planter. 

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