String of pearls and other succulents can create an eclectic mix.


will become in the few short months of our growing season. You want your pots to look great as soon as you fill them and throughout the growing season so place each plant very close together, in fact, cram ‘em in! Now you’re beginning to understand the importance of providing the proper soil medium and nutrients. Because the plants are in such close proximity to each other, choose ones with similar water requirements as well as light. Again, just like people, we tend to have the most fun with people who are similar to us and like the same things. The same goes for plants. Think of the pot or container as a mini-landscape.


Red petunias help brighten up this already colourful mix of canna and heuchera.


20 • Summer 2014


The same design principles that apply to your yard apply to the container, just in a much smaller scale. Design is design. Consider things like size, shape, colour, and texture when selecting plants. There is a lot of talk about choosing thrillers – a plant that stands out from the rest (that’s your focal point – a design principle), fill- ers – plants the fill up space (usually by adding texture – a design principle) and spillers – the plants that trail over the pot (it helps to create balance – you guessed it – another design principle). Become a designer and let the artist in you create and experiment with a variety of plants. Art is not about right or wrong – it’s about personal preference.


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