Planting the perfect patio container

In the garden nursery, you will be looking for plants to create a design plan that includes thrillers, fillers and spillers for your patio container. Choose plants that are suitable for where the container will be located. Is that a sunny location or a shady location? Below are three simple steps when planting a perfect patio container. I’ll mention getting the container ready with potting soil, arranging the plants and settling them in for a season of an attractive, rewarding patio container.

You will start with the purchase of quality potting soil. You could probably get by with “so-so” potting mix and chances are the plants would be fine. If you’re going to the trouble of potting up a container, you want it to look spectacular when it’s done, not just pretty good.

Usually when you open the bag of soil the potting mix is already moist. If the bag has been damaged or an already open bag has dried out, you’ll need to moisten the soil before adding it to your patio container. Fill the container to an inch or two below the rim and gently pat the soil down to settle it.

Before you take your plants out of the plastic pots, arrange them in a couple of ways in the container to see how they look best. Keep in mind your vantage point. For example, if you’ll only see this container from one direction, you’ll want the tallest plant at the back with shorter or trailing plants in the front.

When you’ve decided which plant goes where, it’s time to get them into the soil. First remove one of the plants from its plastic pot. Squeeze the pot gently or turn it upside down and tap the rim against a table to get the plant to slide loose.

Once it’s out, you should see circling roots. Use your fingers to comb out the root ends. That’ll get the roots going out, not around, leading to a healthier plant. The potting soil should cover all the roots up to the depth that the plant was at in its plastic container.

A favorite planting tip is to angle some plants slightly, so they’ll spill over the edge of the container. Even plants that aren’t really spillers can soften the edge of the container. It’s ok to pack plants tightly into a container; that will give you the rich, full look you’re going for. When squeezing plants into a small place; be careful not to break roots way from the crown.

For gardening questions, contact the Master Gardeners at the WSU Grant-Adams Extension office at 754-2011, Ext. 4313 or email your gardening questions to ga.mgvolunteers@ad.wsu.edu. Visit our web page at grant-adams.wsu.edu.