Container Gardening Tips from Pitt County Extension Master Gardeners

Story by Joanne K., Pitt County Arboretum Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

What to do when you want to add more color and excitement to your garden, but there's just no space to squeeze in one more plant?

That's when the savvy gardener turns to container gardening to create new gardens every season and every year without the heavy lifting required to start a new planting bed.

At the Pitt County Arboretum, the Master Garden container team changes out the pots each season showcasing the variety of plants suitable for planters. Annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, grasses, succulents, herbs, and vegetables are all fair game for container planting.

The accompanying pictures show three of the Arboretum containers planted for summer for part sun, full sun, and shade.

Master Gardener Teresa S. shares the following tips for successful container gardening.

TIP # 1—CHOOSE THE RIGHT POT
Consider the size, texture, and color of the container to enhance the plants you put inside. Porous pots such as terracotta don't retain water like ceramic or plastic would. Smaller pots dry out faster than larger ones. Is your pot frost resistant? Is it light enough to be moved around? Make sure your container has a drainage hole in the bottom.

TIP # 2—USE A GOOD POTTING SOIL
It is best to use a light potting mix in your containers. Soil directly from your garden is often too heavy and may contain weed seeds and diseases. You can purchase bags of ready-made container mixes. Even bags with fertilizer added need extra throughout the growing season.

Part sun planter in the perennial garden: Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'; Ajuga reptans, Buglewort; Euphorbia x martini 'Ascot Rainbow, Martin's Spurge'; Liriope mascara 'Variegata', Lily Turf; Alocasia 'Calidora', Elephant Ears; Angelonia hybrid 'Angelface Perfectly Pink', Summer Snapdragon; Calibrachoa hybrid 'Supervells Evening Star', Calibrachoa.

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Full sun planter in front of the Extension building: two planters contain a variety of drought-tolerant sedums and succulents and a grass.

TIP #3—PLANTING DESIGN
It's easy using the THRILLER, FILLER, AND SPILLER method. A tall plant (the thriller) adds height, mounding plants (fillers) add texture and substance, and trailing plants (spillers) cascade down the sides to complete the look.

TIP # 4—NOT JUST ORNAMENTALS
Containers can hold more than flowering plants. Consider planting an herb pot which can be placed close to your kitchen ready for picking when you need them. A variety of them adds an attractive display of color, scent, shape, and flavor.

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TIP # 5 PLANT CARE
Select your plants based on their needs. Will the container be in the sun? Are all the plants drought tolerant? What maintenance is required? You might consider adding an irrigation system to keep your plants watered keeping in mind that plants in pots dry out much more quickly than plants in the ground.

TIP #6—EVERGREENS
Use small evergreens as a focal point in your container. Various flowering annuals can compliment them and easily be changed throughout the different seasons. When the evergreen outgrows the pot, it usually can be planted in your regular garden.

TIP #7—VARIETY IN FOLIAGE
Foliage color and texture are important elements in designing your containers. Combinations of nonflowering plants can make interesting arrangements.

Shade planter under the Green Roof Shelter: Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance', Autumn Fern; Vinca vine Variegated; Gaultheria procumbens, American Wintergreen.

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When shopping at your favorite nursery, start planning your next container garden creation with these tips in mind!

Photos: Joanne K.