Top Advice for Developing an Impressive Container Plant Arrangement
Chatty Containers:
Turn your humdrum backyard into a vibrant oasis with a little help from garden designer and instructor, Rochelle Greayer. Here, she shares her secrets for breathtaking container gardens that can turn any outdoor space into a masterpiece.
Meet Rochelle Greayer:
This Massachusetts-based garden designer, editor of The American Gardener magazine, and all-around plant guru is about to take your container garden game to the next level.
1. Texture Magic:
All that matters is a garden that looks fabulous in black and white, according to Greayer. This arrangement is a perfect example. Despite rocking a harmonious pink-and-green color palette, it's not the colors that make this garden shine but the contrasting shapes and textures. Players like the leafy 'Dark Ruffles' coleus, strappy New Zealand flax, and pompom-shaped dahlias steal the show with their distinct forms.
2. Vacation for Houseplants:
With summer upon us, Greayer likes to give her houseplants a dose of sunshine and fresh air by letting them take a break outdoors, where they can join forces with outdoor plants in stylish container arrangements. The combo of big-leaf elephant ears, specimen begonias, and amaryllises with Hakone grass, coral bells, and ferns is a dreamy collection that plays together beautifully.
To ensure a smooth transition from indoors to outdoors, start your houseplants in a shady part of the garden to avoid scorching the sensitive indoor plant leaves in the direct sun.
3. Garden Chameleons:
While container groupings can make a powerful statement, they work best as a harmonious complement to your inground plantings, according to Greayer. Check out the potted plants lining the stairs here, which blend seamlessly with the existing yellow wax bells and black-eyed Susans on the other side of the low stone wall.
4. Toss a Curveball:
When it comes to arranging your containers, be prepared to change things up as the seasons change or if something isn't quite working. "Don't be afraid to shake things up," Greayer says, suggesting that if something isn't ringing your bell, consider moving it to a different spot or swapping it out for something new. Greayer typically opts for one plant type per pot for easier maintenance and arrangement.
5. Collect and Curate:
Looking to bring a bit of charm to your container garden? Start by choosing a recurring element like a color or material. Build your collection of pots and plants around this central theme. Greayer's terracotta pot selection ties together a spectrum of yellow and purple plants that includes agave, coreopsis, Russian sage, and dwarf morning glory. Pro tip: Don't limit yourself to garden centers and nurseries. Thrift shops, online marketplaces, estate sales, and discount stores can also be goldmines for unique finds at budget-friendly prices.
6. Distract and Conquer:
Got a section of your garden that just isn't cutting it? Consider placing a large arrangement of containers nearby to draw the eye away from it. "It's a fantastic way to break up a view and divert attention," Greayer says. You don't even have to break the bank on new plants for this trick. Consider containers the starting point for plants that may eventually end up in the ground elsewhere in the garden.
Still in need of inspiration for the perfect container garden? Check out The 17 Best Outdoor Planters for a curated selection of fantastic finds to get you started. Happy gardening!
- Garden designer Rochelle Greayer, the editor of The American Gardener magazine, says a garden's beauty is most apparent in black and white, as seen in the texture-rich pink-and-green container garden featuring 'Dark Ruffles' coleus, New Zealand flax, and pompom-shaped dahlias.
- In the warm summer months, Greayer moves her houseplants outdoors, combining them with outdoor plants in stylish container arrangements. The collection of big-leaf elephant ears, specimen begonias, amaryllises, Hakone grass, coral bells, ferns, and more plays together beautifully, with a careful transition from indoors to outdoors to avoid damaging the sensitive leaves.
- Container groupings work best when they harmoniously complement existing inground plantings, according to Greayer, as evidenced by the potted plants lining the stairs, which blend seamlessly with the existing yellow wax bells and black-eyed Susans on the other side of a low stone wall.
- Greayer encourages flexibility in arranging containers, suggesting that if something isn't working, don't be afraid to change it up or move it to a different spot. For easier maintenance, Greayer often chooses one plant type per pot.
- To bring charm to a container garden, Greayer suggests choosing a recurring element, such as a color or material, and building a collection around this central theme. Greayer's terracotta pot selection ties together a variety of yellow and purple plants, including agave, coreopsis, Russian sage, and dwarf morning glory.
- If there's a section of the garden that isn't impressive, consider placing a large arrangement of containers nearby to divert attention, as suggested by Greayer. These containers can serve as temporary plantings before being moved elsewhere in the garden.
