Preparing Planters for Beautiful Flowers
“Even when petals have flaws, all you see is a beautiful flower.”
~Adrianne Elizabeth
When that hint of SPRING and warmer weather strikes, so does my desire to get busy planting flowers. There’s just something about all of the vivid COLORS, from the simple african daisy (osteospermum) to the beautiful flowing clusters of the verbena to the DAINTY alyssum blooms to the statuesque sunflowers.
I wanted to talk to you about my planters, both flower pots and planter boxes and how to create an IDEAL environment for them to grow. There’s so much more to it than simply adding potting soil to a pot - so much more.
First of all, let’s PREPARE the pot or box. You want to make sure there is adequate drainage so that you don’t create a swamp for the roots to suffocate in. In the BOTTOM of your pot or box it is important to have a material that will allow for the movement of water, a barrier of sorts that will let the EXCESS water flow out while holding in the potting mediums. I use either river rock or red lava rock, about 1 ½”-2” deep for a medium to large size planter.
Next, I add a little bit of straw that will hold on to some MOISTURE as a reserve, just in case the potting medium gets dry before the next watering. If I am filling a new large pot or planter box, I add some FILLER material, such as cardboard which will break down over time, before I put the straw in.
Now it’s time to talk about potting mediums. It is important to provide your plants with a good mixture that will SUPPORT the needs of the root systems. If your material is heavy, it will not let the roots grow out as they should and could STUNT the growth of your plant. If it is too light, the roots will not be able to gain enough strength to HOLD the plant up. I use three mediums and mix them together before placing them in my pots or boxes (you can also put them in and then mix together, but I find it easier to mix them up in a bucket first). I use EQUAL amounts of soilless potting mix, peat moss, and a cow manure and compost mix. Fill the container for your plants about ⅔ of the way full of the potting mixture.
Next comes the ARRANGEMENT of plants. Unless it’s a large plant that will fill the container by itself, I like to make arrangements. For an arrangement you need to consider: thrillers, fillers, and spillers. A THRILLER is a plant that is going to be standing tall. This plant or plants can either be placed in the back of the container, or in the center. Then comes the FILLERS. Fillers are shorter plants that will fill the majority of the container. Next are the spillers. SPILLERS are just that, plants that spill over the edges of the container. There are all kinds of decorative vines, with and without flowers that make beautiful spillers. A combination makes a beautiful presentation. After you decide which plants to use, start with the thriller(s), placing it on the potting mixture and adding just enough additional mixture around it so that it can stand up. Then ARRANGE your filler plants the same way, followed by the spillers. Once all plants are in, add just enough potting mixture to cover all root systems.
Last thing - MULCH! I admit, I never thought this was necessary, but after taking the Master Gardener’s course, it is IMPERATIVE that you use some sort of a mulch to protect the roots and hold in moisture so that you have beautiful plants. That’s why you’re planting, right? I chose black wood mulch and I think it looks beautiful. It really allows the COLORS of the flowers to stand out.
If you haven’t started your planters yet, or if you have but think you might want to add some MORE, remember the amazing offer you can get with Planter Box Direct using my special code MAMAP25. You will receive 25% off of your order and free shipping with no minimum purchase!!! Seriously, I have never seen them offer a deal this good, and they are amazing planter boxes! I am using 2’x2’ and 2’x4’ boxes for my flowers.
If you have any questions or need some ADVICE on plants, just let me know. The world can always use MORE flowers!
Here are some pictures of my planters that I started this spring. Some of the plants are still adapting to their new home and show typical signs of stress, but that will resolve itself soon. It’s hard to distinguish the thrillers right now, but as they grow it will be very noticeable. I will post more pictures of their growth later.
