I was an avid gardener from when I was a small girl working alongside my mom in the garden. Three children later, I’ve honed some tips to share with you to make your outdoor living space easy and look great!
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
