Planters offer gardeners an affordable outlet to do what they love most: experiment. Known as one of the first living walls, flower boxes have long been a favorite of gardeners. They continue to be a popular landscape element today and often represent front gardens on homes that open onto the driveway.
While there is a lot of creative freedom with planting, there is a right way to do it. Planters show the wide range of possibilities that a few meters of soil can offer, so use our tips to make your own floral creation.
The first step is to choose the box and where you want to hang it. Don’t underestimate how heavy a planter can be – it’s filled with soil and plants and gets even heavier when wet. We recommend purchasing a sturdy box made from wood such as redwood or cedar rather than pine, which rots quickly. Then secure the box with a planter holder.
Always make sure the planter has drainage holes. To help, make a layer of 5 cm of expanded clay or crushed stone. Then fill the box halfway with potting soil and add your plants. Make sure the plants are placed a few inches apart to give them room to grow.
If you want an immediate impact, you can plant closer, of course, but know that you’ll need to prune your plants to avoid overcrowding. Once the plants are in place, fill in the gaps with more soil and lightly dust around the plants.
As with all potted plantings, choose plants with similar water and light needs and expect to water them more often than those in the garden. Water well whenever the soil dries out.
The best planters contain a mixture of these three types of plants, which stand out for their beauty, for background and for volume.
protagonists
They are the ones that grab attention and drive the rest of the design.
– African Iris: Exotic flowers atop long, pointed leaves.
– Garden Joy: Scented and a butterfly magnet.
– Muda Alocasia: Large emerald green leaves give it a tropical feel.
– Coleus: Massive, erect leaves; prefers shade.
coadjuvants
Dragging along the side of the container, these plants add softness and a little romance to your planter.
– Pothos Neon: Chartreuse leaves are like rays of sunshine.
– White Petunia: Fast-growing and adds a country-house charm.
– Sedum rupestre Angelina: This succulent will look great in your flower box.
– Pink Geranium: They bloom in summer.
Extra
No less important than the others, these plants will cover the vacant spaces between the two previous groups.
– Caladium: Leaves with a white center look bright and fresh.
– Confetti Plant: Its foliage makes an impact in any garden or vase.
– Agastache: Lilac flowers match everything.
– Maria sem-shameless: They grow very fast and will fulfill the role of filling vacant spaces in your flowerpot.
Remember a few design basics, then unleash your creativity.
Standard
Making a pattern is a surefire way to create a cohesive look in a window. This 4 m long planter is planted with repeating groups of Ivy Topiary, Coleus and White Caladium for a sense of flow and order.
Focal point
Choosing the centerpiece first means the rest of your plant choices will fall into place. This project started with a Tuia Limão. Coleus unites the colors of the foliage and the brick, and wire vines loosen the design.
Texture
This arrangement achieves masses of texture by mixing Purple Fountaingrass, Croton and Sweet Potato Vine. Differences in shape ensure that each plant stands out, even if the box is well packed.
landscaping tips
For this garden door planter, red-orange Copper Leaves and variegated Sea Hibiscus were used, which match the color of a nearby Japanese maple. It’s filled with English ivy, which also grows in the backyard, as well as Spanish moss.
Consistency
Try choosing a single color palette for plantings throughout your home. This flowering plant uses green and white, with hints of yellow. If your window box is located near an outdoor dining table, add aromatic herbs such as thyme, oregano and mint as a filling.
*Via Better Homes & Gardens