04-06-2011
The robins are tweeting and the forsythia is blooming. You’re perusing your yard for sprouts and buds. As you’re dreaming of colorful petunias, showy sunflowers and lush grass, don’t forget about your garden containers. Put some extra oomph into your outdoor containers this year by following some of the following suggestions…
Light Them Up! Give plants and flowers a soft glow by positioning solar tiki torches in the soil of planters and pots. Beautiful!
Paint Them! Paint old pots and planters bright colors that compliment plants and flowers. For more pizzazz, paint pots bright contrasting colors and use various painting techniques, such as sponging, striping and marbling.
Tile Them! Buy or break up shards of glass (be careful - wear safety goggles and heavy-duty gloves), mix up some grout, and tile tired planters and pots. Watch them sparkle in the sun.
Spotlight Them! Set pots near Malibu-style spotlights. Position spotlights behind pots (backlight) for a softer glow or align containers against a wall and position spotlights in front of the pot to create unique shadows on your homes exterior. Experiment with various colored bulbs.
Trellis Them! Place a small trellis in a pot or planter for an interesting architectural effect (Paint a bright color for more drama.). Make a tepee-style trellis by tying together fallen branches or twigs. Vine with a climbing plant if desired.
Tie Them Together! Create a horizontal trellis between two containers. Place pots 2-3 feet apart and insert a sturdy stick in each container. With string or wire, connect sticks and create 2-3 rows of string. Plant climbing plants, such as morning glories, black-eyed Susan vines or ivy in the pots and trail along the string.
Group Them! Several garden pots grouped together are showier than one little pot sitting alone. Experiment with different size and type containers, creating different levels.
Move Them Around! Garden containers look great on porches and decks but also fit well in many other areas in/around the garden. Place around the mailbox or set on an old chair seat, bench or tree stump. Place potted greenery under outdoor side tables. Hang from mailbox posts, old swing sets and birdfeeder poles. Insert a plant hanger in a giant earn.
Color Them! Make a real impact by creating a monochromatic (tints, shades and tones of a single hue) color scheme. They’re easy to create, easy on the eyes, and very showy, especially when viewed from a distance. Use various flower species or one species for super impact.
Think Outside the Pot! Who says a garden pot is something you acquire from the garden center. Try old tires, wheel barrels, wagons, tubs, creates, old mailboxes, birdhouses, etc. Just make sure it’s waterproof and provides room for drainage.
Think Year-Round! Annuals aren’t the only plantings that are used in containers. Small spruces, elephant ears, ostrich or lady ferns, spring bulbs and ornamental grasses say, “look at me,” and depending on your hardy zone, may be used year-round.
Copyright© 2011 by Lisa Gregor. All rights reserved.
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