How do you combine plants and flowers in planters to make them look really good? Here are 4 tips for creating a successful planter design.
Combining plants in pots to create a beautiful look is not so easy. Our tips will help you achieve professional results.
1. Combine plants with similar growing conditions
One of the most important rules when planting a flowerpot is to make sure you only combine plants with similar needs. The location of the pot plays a crucial role in this. Is it sunny, partly shaded or shaded?
Sunny plants, such as geraniums or petunias, need at least six hours of sunlight a day. Plants that grow well in partial shade need four to six hours of direct sunlight, and only shade plants will be happy with less than four hours of sunlight a day.
Consider how much water the plants need. Plants with different water requirements should not be planted together in the same container or planter box. What is too wet for one plant will be too dry for another!
Tip: Read the plant labels before you buy, and only buy plants for a planter that have the same requirements for the location and the same water needs.
2. Choose plants that grow at about the same rate
When planting your container, make sure the plants don’t fight for dominance. Some plants grow faster than others and can overtake the smaller ones. It’s best to combine plants with similar growth rates. If you want to mix different types, it’s best to choose plants with a similar growth rate.
Tip: Check the plant’s label for growth and height information to make sure no one plant is crowding out the others.
3. Combine plants of different shapes and sizes
Opposites attract, even in pots! For an attractive design, choose plants with different leaf and flower shapes when **planting your flowerpot**. Combine delicate plants with larger, more striking ones. You can’t go wrong with a tall plant in the centre surrounded by lower perennials and a trailing plant at the edge of the pot. You can change the mood of your arrangement by choosing different flower colours. A planting with flowers in one colour tone looks elegant, while a combination of plants that bloom in complementary colours, such as yellow and orange with purple and blue, looks cheerful.
Tip: Choose plants with different leaf shapes and heights.
4. Choosing the right number of plants
Tip: Place the plants next to each other before you buy them to make sure they fill the planter well and create the desired look.
5. A little care is needed
Once your pot is well planted, a little care is needed to keep the plants growing well throughout the summer. Plants need to be watered and fertilised regularly. Many flowers need regular pruning to encourage them to produce new flowers quickly. If you don’t want to do this, you can choose container plants that don’t need pruning, such as lantana.