GARDENER'S READING ROOM
The Art of Gardening

Gardening in a Pot

Gardening in containers can release your inner creative genius. You can try the offbeat, the traditional, the Zen, and the wow! If you don’t like the results, you can easily change it or move it to the back of the display area.

Here at Sky, we use a wide variety of containers and baskets for our creations. But with all the fun we have, we always start with a few basic questions and considerations:

1. What am I trying to accomplish?
   a) Do I want a focal point - in the garden, on my deck/patio, on a tabletop or railing?
   b) Do I need to fill a void in the garden?
   c) Do I need a privacy screen?
   d) Do I want to grow ornamentals, edibles, or both?
2. How much light do I have in the spot where I want to put this pot?
3. How much time do I have to put into its care?
4. What look do I want?
   a) Color(s)?
   b) Single plant or many?
   c) Style of planting?
   d) Pot used alone, as garden art, or as accent piece?
   e) Style/color of pot?

Here are a few common design ideas:

1. One plant: this can range from bonsai to a specimen plant (usually one with very large leaves, spectacular flowers, or other dramatic focus).
2. Masses of a single type of plant.
3. Mixed plantings with a range of heights, foliage textures, and blooms - in a single color or a mix of colors. You can mix blooming annuals with grasses, trailing plants, ferns and other foliage plants.
4. Using indoor plants outdoors - gives a greater selection of colors, textures, and sizes. You can get a “hot” look - from the tropics to the desert.
5. Using understated containers - to let the plants take the major bow.
6. Using simple plantings (single plant, all foliage, or one color scheme) - to accent the containers more.
7. Groupings of containers - you can coordinate or contrast the pots, the plants, or both.

Go out and have fun!
Did you know...?
Sky Nursery has a potting and a container design service. For pricing, turnaround time, and other details contact Sarah G. or Mary Ann at (206)-546-4851.

By Sarah Garrison & Mary Ann Greco
Skylights Spring/Summer 2007 Vol. 22, No. 2

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