Guest Post by Claudia Harvey
I remember when my first was about 8 months old, I kept him so active for the morning hoping he’d sleep for at least an hour so I could find some peace in the garden and he woke up after 20 minutes! Really buddy, give your mom a break!
My number one tip when time is at a premium and you still want a lovely outdoor space, planters are a mom’s best friend.
You can make a deck and garden come alive with a burst of colour by using a few annuals in a container that can bring an unexciting space to life. Planters can reflect your style and personality.
Mix and match container styles, sizes and colours for that eclectic bohemian look: a Mexican villa comes to mind. Or have the same style of planter in the same colour to have a consistent, minimalist look like a New York restaurant terrace. If grouping containers, raise one behind another to have a tiered affect.
The key to keeping planters looking nice through the season is water everyday but don’t overwater and make sure the container has drainage!
When creating a planter or container, remember to:
1. Use light mix potting soil that retains moisture – specifically designed for containers.
2. Plant closely together so the soil doesn’t show.
3. Add a variety of plants that include green foliage plants. This will add contrast to the flowers and colours that bloom. You can start with a tall spiky plant that will add height to the planter in the middle and then work around from there. Some plants I found easy to work with and have constant bloom are chrysanthemums, petunias, begonias and trailing impatiens.
4. Deadhead the flowers throughout the season and your container will flourish.
A few containers, along with some candles or lanterns placed where little hands can’t reach, can create a comfortable, enjoyable ambiance perfect for entertaining or simply a respite from the daily demands of your hectic pace of life!
Photo Courtesy of Simply Beautiful (Ball Horticultural Company) and www.potluckcreativecontainers.com.
Claudia Harvey is the co-founder of Dig It Apparel Inc., as seen on CBC’s Dragons’ Den www.digithandwear.com
momstown originally published this in 2013