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Container Design Ideas

Need container design ideas? Start here

Ok –so you’ve found a fabulous container and you know where you want to put it, but not what you want to put in it.

Time for the design stage……and selecting the plants. Don’t worry – it’s not as hard to pull together as you might think. Just a little thought and planning is needed.

Let me give you a few quick tips, and you’ll create a lovely professional container garden in no time.

Trust me. You can do it!

First of all – Go crazy. Experiment with different plant combinations and have fun.

Mix plants that need similar amounts of sun and water. Try mixing up the types of plants you put into a single container. Veggies can be mixed with herbs, vines, and other flowers. You can use ornamental kale and for their colors, textures, and overall looks.

You can use any plant that you’d like for your containers as long as they are the right size, you water them often, and they get the right amount of sunlight.

Containers need to be large enough

So that roots can expand.

So that the plants won’t dry out as quickly

Designing A Container Garden-- 3 Easy Design Tips for Beginners:

Use these 3 types of plants

1. Plants that grow up for height

2. Plants that grow around for width

3. Plants that trail down for softness

So – let’s break that down….

Plants that grow up are for height and a focal point. Use small trees ( Japanese maples), large spikes, or grasses for the tall point of the planter. You can also use a trellis in a planter and grow vines up the structure for height.

Plants that grow around are the flowers that branch out and give the planter a full look. Good choices are mums, geraniums daisies, zinnias, marigolds, impatiens, hosta, for example. These plants will provide depth and stability to your containers.

Plants that trail are just that. Plants that hang down over the edges of the container. This plant will balance the whole thing off beautifully. Use the popular potato vine, trailing vinca , cascading petunias or fuchsias, English ivy , alyssum, or creeping jenny.

Use 3 Pots Instead of One

For a grand look - use 3 pots of varying sizes instead of one large one. Plant the containers with identical or very similiar arrangements.

Group together - the larger pot in the back with the 2 smaller ones in the front.

This arrangement looks professional and well designed.

Have a Color Scheme

Decide on a color scheme before you go to the garden center or nursery. It can be overwhelming when you see all of your options for your container garden design.

When thinking about the color schemes, take into consideration the container color and material,the location and colors of the surrounding area or house.

Theme Planters- You may be planting a container garden for a specific occasion like 4th of July. Red white and blue arrangements are bright and cheery and adds to the festivities.

Beginner tip- Use one or two colors for an easy, no-fail design in your containers.

Using only white flowers in clay pots creates a fresh and clean look.

Red flower color scheme exudes excitement.

Blue flowers in containers can be soothing.

Yellow flowers with white accents will offer a cheery attitude.

Remember- too many colors in one container can look messy and haphazard.

For a no-fail container garden, use the 3 plant type technique and a single color in the flowers; create interest with texture and greenery.

Want more creative container design ideas?

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