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Designing Container Gardens - Part III

© Kathy Reiffenstein

This is the third of a three-part series on Designing with Containers. In this article, I've given you some tips on arranging containers for maximum impact and some suggestions for striking container combos. The initial article explored design styles in the garden and how to choose a style that is consistent with your personal taste and flair; the second article looked at the principles of composition and explored unity, focal point, color, shape and texture, and offered some tips and examples on how to integrate these principles into your container garden.

Incorporating a multitude of containers into your landscape, whether you have an urban apartment balcony, a small patio or an expansive garden, will add immediate color and density. There are endless combinations of plant colors, textures and containers to excite your imagination. Take a look at last month's column for guidelines on design principles and then try some of the following combinations.

For a formal look, plant a structured evergreen shrub, such as boxwood (Buxus spp.) or barberry (Berberis spp.), in classic ceramic or stone containers with simple lines. Choose pots that are at least 18 inches and position one on either side of a doorway or flanking the start of a walkway or pathway. The dense foliage of these shrubs allows you to prune them into conical, cube or globe shapes for added architectural interest.

Formality doesn't have to be stark or monochromatic, however. Use a classical stone urn with full, curved sides and fill it with vibrant colors, such as red geraniums or bright yellow daffodils. If you have a small container, elevate it on a pedestal or column to highlight it. One characteristic of a formal style is repetition; so if you have the space, repeat the same container along a wall or surrounding a patio.

In looking at container combinations, be sure to choose plants that have the same water and light needs. Also consider the growth habits of the plants you combine; if some grow at much faster rates than the others, they make overtake the container. One of the benefits, however, of planting in containers is that you can easily pull out a plant that is not doing well or is not keeping up with the others.

Lavenders and greys are a soothing combination in any garden, and luckily Mother Nature has given us several choices. Combine helichrysum (Helichrysum petiolare) with trailing lilac or purple lobelia (Lobelia erinus) for a lush container that will do well in semi-shade. Remove the rather insignificant flowers on the helichrysum to encourage bushy foliage. Helichrysum is an energetic grower, so trim the stems periodically to prevent them from becoming too straggly.

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