Sizzling Summer Planters
The Summer Planter Chronicle
Greetings, my fellow plant addicts. Now is the time to inject colorful capsules of joy throughout your outdoor spaces. Yup, it is time to plant up your pots, all of them! This is your opportunity to accessorize your outdoor space with a full-sun diva or a shady seductress.
Back to Basics
Thrillers, Spillers, Fillers
a) Towering Thrillers: Statuesque annuals such as Cannas, Coleous, or Salvia demand attention and set the stage. Perennial grasses add movement and high drama.
b) Let's bring in the spiller plants—those trailing wonders that cascade over the edges of our planters with flair, like trailing Bacopa, flamboyant Sweet Potato Vine, or shaggy Wire Vine, will weave and tumble down the pot.
c) Now, let's fill those gaps with texture-rich perennials. Coneflower, Lambs Ear, Japanese Forest Grass, or Cuphea, which hummingbirds love. These resilient beauties will keep your garden party going all summer long!
Aside from the thriller, filler, spiller elements, I think about 3 additional components; color, movement, and texture.
Shady Vibe
Ah, the mystical allure of shade—where the sun fades away and foliage flourishes. Fear not; shade need not be drab—it can be fab!
Let foliage take center stage! Embrace the wonders of shade-loving plants with a delicious array of Hostas, Heucheras, and Ferns.
For a splash of color, try the illuminating beauty of the new begonias out there. These are not your mother’s bedding plants!
For height, introduce a whimsical obelisk and have a charming vine ramble skyward.
By combining perennials and annuals – you can create stunning planters. Combining the two ensures a burst of color from the annuals while allowing the perennials to establish themselves for the long term. Experiment with different color palettes, heights, and textures. You learn by doing. Some years are a flop; some years, you hit out of the park!
Be brave, be creative, take chances, and Get Dirty!
XOZOE
Top Tip
Turn your planter into a self-watering planter……
Here is a little trick if you are traveling this summer and your planters are not irrigated. These self-watering inserts have a water reservoir allowing plant roots to drink the water. Simply fill the reservoir through a small tube sticking above the soil level once a week. Nifty trick, right?!?