Containers are a great way to showcase your favorite plants. Container planting gives you many options for combining different plants, as well as easily changing the layout of your garden. If you’ve decided to incorporate container designs into your garden, reading the article “Designing Great Containers” by Rita Randolph will be very helpful. Rita writes:

It doesn’t take long for a fun adventure at the local garden center or greenhouse to become an overwhelming, hair-pulling experience. With the bazillion plant and pot choices available, it can be difficult to pick just the right elements for the perfect container planting. Oceans of begonias, impatiens, coleus, petunias, salvias, and Cape daisies can leave anyone dumbfounded. Then there are the rows of colorful terra-cotta, fiberglass, glazed, metal, and plastic pots to contend with. It’s not easy when faced with so many options, but don’t let that intimidate you. 

Rather than wince, embrace the variety and have fun. As with finding the perfect clothes, shoes, and accessories for a special occasion, you have to try a few things on in the store before you find the right outfit. The best way to assemble a winning container combination is not to be shy about mixing and matching plant and container options at the garden center. You’ll soon find a composition that strikes your fancy. Read more.

Once you’ve gathered your plants, your container, and your potting mix, you’re ready to put it all together. However, potting a container can create a big mess. Here are some helpful tips from Fine Gardening Executive Editor Danielle Sherry to help keep things tidy.

A tidy way to pot a container

1. Use a tarp around your workspace to catch fallen debris.

2. Add a time-released fertilizer once the soil is in your container.

3. Once you’re done adding plants to your container, simply fold up the tarp and dispose of the extra debris.

4. Enjoy your new container and your clean potting area!