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Where do you start when picking plants to create vibrant baskets and planters?
First, choose the biggest plants you can buy. This will give you more of an instant garden.
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How many plants do you need for each container?
You need one plant for every two inches the container measures in diameter. A 10-inch pot will need five plants and a 12-inch pot will need six. This is a minimum number, but it is a place to start. Anything less will take too long to look full and lush.
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Fertilize at least once a week. Annuals are heavy feeders and require lots of food.
I like to pick a colour theme before I leave to go shopping. This year, because the colour of the year is peach, I am going to start there. A few suggestions are peach begonias, impatiens, Angelina, coleus and Calibrachoa. I am going to add some purple — as purple is the opposite colour on the colour wheel — to provide some wow factor. Some suggestions are petunias or impatiens or purple passion plant.
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Here are some other colour combinations that work well.
- Yellow and purple
- Red and white
- Yellow red and pink
- Purple and pink
- Red and green
- Black (dark purple) and orange
- Purple and grey
You can always go with one colour and all of its shades such as purple from magenta to dark purple to lavender and even white or yellow, orange to red.
Download a gardeners colour wheel to your phone. It helps you stay on track and can give you new ideas.
I try to never repeat the colour schemes I use in my garden planters. I want to try something different every year.
Don’t stress about the colour you choose, have fun and next year you can try something different.
Denise Hodgins is a professional gardening coach in London. Send your questions to coaching@diggendirtdesigns.com
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