Container gardens are so much more than potted plants. Containers are the furnishings for your garden. In an aesthetic sense, they are the splash of color in a shady area, the welcoming greeter at the door, a sculptural statement in the garden and a seasonal privacy screen. Containers are convenient, portable and can be placed in spots that catch our attention and hold it from any angle. Container gardens full of flowers or vegetables provide a practical and convenient way to add color, fragrance and personality to entryways, porches, decks and balconies, and even on docks.

What makes a beautiful container garden?

We all know a beautiful container when we see it. Most of us can't quite put our finger on what makes it so beautiful, but it is the elusive thing we want to recreate for ourselves. Here are a few design principles that you can use as a guideline, with some bullet pointed rules of thumb for each design element.You can create your own ideal container if you remember these are guidelines; for every rule there is an exception and some of the best examples break all the rules.

Balance

Balance is the feeling of stability. There are two kinds of balance: symmetrical balance is achieved when everything is symmetric around a central point.This type of balance is often called "formal balance" because it presents a more orderly and formal appearance.The second type is informal balance which occurs when the two sides are not symmetric, but have the same visual weight.

For example:

• Use 3-4 flowering plants to 1 non-flowering plant.
• Use an uneven number of plants.

Unity

There is often something in a garden that will pull all of the elements together and bring a sense of order. One of the best ways to unify your container gardens is to use consistent materials, colors or shapes, or plants:

• If you have many types of pots and locations for container gardens, you may want to repeat the same color scheme or use similar plants in your pots.
• If you love many different colors of flowers, consider using the same type or color of pots to achieve a sense of unity.

Texture

The texture of plants is often something people notice but don't think about. Plant textures range from thorny and glossy to smooth and woolly.

• Be creative and mix plants with several different textures of foliage.

Shape

Plants have natural shapes that can be used to customize each container to suit your needs. Plants and their flowers come in all different shapes and sizes: tall, spiky, round, conical, mounded, trailing, climbing and horizontal.

• Mix several different shapes and sizes in the same container. Use tall plants to add height, rounded plants to fill in, climbers or trees to increase shade or add privacy, and trailing plants to soften a container's edge.

Scale/Proportion

The relationship between the pots and the surrounding area, and the plants in the containers, is the best way to define scale and proportion. The larger the area you're working with, the bigger the pot or the grouping of pots can be.

• Plant material should be twice as tall as the visible part of the pot.

Color

Color is the attention-getter in any garden and reflects your personality. The vibrant colors of red, yellow and orange will highlight and add cheerfulness to any party, or cloudy day. Blues and purples are cool colors which create a calm and relaxed atmosphere for a deck or patio. There are no rules here; pick the colors you love the most.

• When you plan the colors for your containers, look beyond the container and choose colors that look good with the surrounding area.
• If you are unsure of which colors to use, keep it simple and remember that white looks good with everything.

Should I use all of my containers?

Sometimes it is the container itself that is strikingly beautiful and sometimes it is the arrangement or combination of many different containers that is irresistible. Pots most often look better in groups and there is no pressure to plant the perfect specimen pot. Each pot can have a different look and the grouping of pots becomes the design statement.

Pots can be arranged to define a path, create a focal point, soften a staircase or corner of a building, or break up a large monotonous area.A stairway looks much more inviting with pots of flowers cascading down the steps.Add height to your arrangement by putting containers on an old chair, box, stacked pots, or hang a basket. If it doesn't work at first, keep moving them until you like the look and feeling of the arrangement.

What will I need to create my own container garden? 

Containers

Use any container you can find as long as it can hold soil and has a hole in the bottom for drainage. Whether it is terra cotta, glazed ceramic, an old whiskey barrel, an urn, a watering can, a basket or an old boot, it can be home to your plants.

Choose the Right Plants

Almost any plant will grow in a container garden.There is no need to limit yourself to the same red geraniums every year, unless of course you only like red geraniums. Shopping for plants always seems a little overwhelming to me because there are so many choices to make. I've learned that the choices can give me a brand new garden every year and that it is an easy way to experiment with and learn about other plants. Annuals give a summer-long burst of color, but shrubs, trees, climbing vines, herbs, vegetables and bulbs work well too.

If you want to put a pot on a south-facing deck, make sure your plants will tolerate sun. Shady areas need plants that will thrive in low light. Information about each type should be available where you purchase plants.

Maintain Your Container Garden

Container gardens need to be maintained just like other garden areas. I have a tendency to plant my containers and watch them grow, but many who have beautiful containers all summer long will trim or "deadhead" flowers, and replace plants that are not doing well or are out of bloom.

Unlike a regular garden, the roots cannot seek out food and nutrients; you must provide what the plants need. Check the fertilizer requirement of the plants you choose and fertilize accordingly on a regular basis.

Watering is also more critical in container gardens.The pots are exposed on all sides to sun and wind. Your plants will need lots of water, especially on hot, windy and sunny days. Water as often as necessary and never let the soil become totally dry. Larger pots will, in general, require less intensive watering than smaller pots. Grouping pots together and using gravel mulch will help conserve moisture. If frequent watering is a problem for you, it is best to use drought-tolerant plants or invest in an automatic watering system.

Enjoy your container gardens. They will look great. Consummate gardeners will always look toward the next planting season.They take photos and keep a journal with names of plants, the growing conditions during the summer and amounts of water and fertilizer the plants received. True gardeners are always looking for new design ideas and new plant varieties to try.

The rest of us have simply enjoyed the beauty of the flowers as long as they lasted. We can take comfort in the thought that we appreciated the splendor, and there was something special about our pots. Who knows, maybe the outstanding gardeners were taking notes about your containers.

Tips for Success

• Make sure your pot has drainage holes.  Poor drainage kills more container plants than any other cause.
• Good soil grows good plants.
• Choose plants with the same light and water needs when you combine them in the same pot.
• Plant flowers close together.
• Move the pots as you would move furniture, if sun conditions do not seem favorable to the plants. If you or the plant doesn't like the new location you can always try another spot.
• If you choose to grow vegetables, select compact or bush-type varieties.

By Barb Cross