Spring Container Garden Ideas

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Spring is here and planters are begging for a refresh! These are some of my favorite container garden ideas for the spring and summer season!

Thriller, Filler and Spiller Containers

Container gardens are a great way to add seasonal color to your landscaping. My favorite planters are assembled with the “thriller, filler, spiller” method. This method involves combining a tall focal plant (thriller), mounding plants for bulk (filler), and trailing plants that hang over the edge (spiller) for a complete, lush look.

Thriller Plants

Thriller plants add dramatic height and texture to your container gardens. Some popular examples include:

• Majesty Palms
• Caladium
• Cordyline (Ti plants)
• Ornamental grasses

Filler Plants

Filler plants…”fill” your containers and pack them with color and texture. Some examples include:

• Coleus
• Impatiens
• Petunias
• Salvia
• Ferns

Spiller Plants

Spiller plants are the key to making a seasonal container look like it’s been there for a long time. These plants fill the edges and cascade over the container. Examples include:

• Creeping Jenny
• Sweet Potato vines
• Vinca
• Calibrachoa
• Lantana

Best Tips for Assembly

Assembling your plants depends on where your container will be placed. If you’re looking for a 360 degree view of your planter, the thriller will need to be placed in the middle of your container. For containers against a wall or fence, the thriller can be place towards the back.

When choosing your plants, first determine where your container will be placed – full sun, partial shade or full shade. Then choose plants with similar sun requirements.

Choose a high-quality potting soil and use a fertilizer when setting up your container garden.

Spring container gardens will be thirsty! Setting up a drip irrigation will keep your plants regularly hydrated and healthy.