Love Flowers? Want to Grow You Own? This is How!

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Growing Flowers in Containers is Easy and Rewarding!

Do you have empty deck and boring backyard? Do you believe that only professionals can create those wonderful flower containers, that you see in glossy garden magazines? On this page you will discover, that growing flowers in containers is easy. Read my story, and be encouraged! Learn the tricks, follow simple instructions, scroll through the photos for ideas and create your own dream flower garden.

Contents at a Glance

My Story.
How best navigate this page.
Too Many Choices: Wood, Clay, Ceramic, Plastic, Stone..

Sun, Shade or In Between?
Ferns are perfect for shade
White or Color? Blue or Red?

more...

My Story.

How abandoned flower container made garden dream a reality.

When we bought our house in Foster City, Ca it had great view on the lagoon, but otherwise boring backyard. Large trees, hedge, grass, and empty wooden deck did not look much at all. I tried few things, but all my efforts did not bring much results. One year later, I've got job assignment that took me and my family to England, where we lived for 2 years in small English village.
I was amazed and impressed how English tend to their gardens. Every little piece of land near each house was a piece of garden art. I was hooked, bought a lot of books and magazines, but could not do much in a rented house. Soon we were back home in California. People who rented our house left few flower pots on our patio, and all of a sudden I realized how i can create my garden without digging hard .
Today, I have container garden, that is admired by all my friends and neighbors. I know now which containers are the best for my flowers; how to create effective combination, which plants like which particular spot, and that you do need to water them. Visit this page, and i will give you some ideas and very simple practical tips on how to create a colorful garden with containers . Look at my pictures and let me know if my English neighbors would approve. Let' get started.
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How best navigate this page.

Look for Numbers and Letters.

Step #1 (Numbers). You will find practical advise and instructions in that section.
A, B, C...(Letters) Specific ideas and illustrations, that you can use.

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Too Many Choices: Wood, Clay, Ceramic, Plastic, Stone..

Step #1. How to select the right container for your patio or deck.

Look at your spot first. Try to imagine which type, size and color of container will look best.
Wooden ones look best on a wooden deck. Heavy stone ones on a stone patio, and so on... Next is size. If you want to create an instant impact, you will need several types of plants (3 is the best combination). That means you need large diameter container to fit at least 3 of 4" pots (those typical ones that you buy from the nursery) on the perimeter of you container, and one in the center. Make sure you have enough depth to insert higher and may be bigger plant in the center. If this sounds too complicated, you can create same effect with several containers, if you group them together.
Pay Attention:don't be tempted by the glossy bright ceramic containers. They may steel the show from your flowers.
Remember, 3 is a magic number: 3 containers, 3 different plants, 3 different heights of containers. See picture attached. Just make sure they have at least one element in common: material, shape, color, and so on...

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Sun, Shade or In Between?

Step #2. How to select right plants for container.

After you decide on material and size of your container, you need to watch how much sun that spot gets during the day. Is it morning or afternoon sun? May be there is hardly any sun at all. I recently visited my kids in Michigan. They asked me to pick up some plants for one of their empty spots in the garden. Both of them told me that the spot is dark and shady, and that is why they do not know what to choose. We went to the nursery, and picked some "hosta" plants, that love shade. it was about 3 p.m. when we came back, and to my huge surprise, that spot was flooded with sun... They never noticed, as they only saw it in the morning from their bedroom window. Well, we ended up planting hostas in a different spot.
The best location for any plants, especially if you want a lot of flowers, is where it gets 5 to 6 hours of morning sun . The worst is afternoon sun only,especially in the hot and dry climates. The good news though is that you can relocate your container. However, if you mix several plants in one container, make sure that they all have same "where to plant" recommendation on the little sticker that comes with the plant. This beautiful grass will do perfect in any harsh sunny or windy condition. Just put it in a large container and water it regularly. But it will not like shade.

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Ferns are perfect for shade

This Fern is growing in the container for at least 5 years by now. Once in a while, I have to prune it, but it is still doing great in the very shady corner of the deck.

White or Color? Blue or Red?

Step #3. How to choose color pallet , when planting in containers.

Color is a matter of preferences. However, there are certain rules that if followed will ensure good results. It is best to select a color scheme for the whole place: cool (blue, pink..purple.) or hot (red, yellow, orange). And stick to it. No matter how beautiful plants look in the nursery, if you mix too many colors in a container or in a small space, it will not look good. Repetition of color and type of flowers creates the best effect. I always select one type of simple annuals (pansies, petunias or marigolds) and plant a lot of them in separate average size clay pots.I place them all over the patio mixing with perennials, which instantly adds color and interest. You also can add few to a large pot, where you grow your perennials to brighten it up.

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A: "Hot" Colors are Good for Summer

These simple annuals look very "hot" and happy.

A pot like this one for sure will draw attention of your visitors.

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B: "Cool" Colors are Soothing and Pleasant for the Eye.

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B+: Pale Roses with Blue Pansies.

When rose tree is not blooming, pansies still will keep this picture colorful.

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Best Soil for Containers.

Step #4. What and where to buy.

Any "potting" soil will do. Just make sure it is not "garden" soil, as "garden" soil is too dense for containers. Good drainage is the key for containers, especially if you use plastic ones.
I always buy plants in a good nursery, but soil can be from the cheapest place, like Home Depot for example. It is also more economical to buy larger size bags. You will need to replace soil, when you decide to re-plant your container, especially if previous plant had any decease. Exception may be if you had large container, but used it for smaller plants or annuals. In that case, you can use at least half of the "last year" soil and mix it with the new. Take a look at the picture below in " Beauty and the wind" section. I kept these plants for 3 years in the same containers on the patio. After I finally pulled them out, I placed them in a raised flower bed, just lightly covering root ball with garden soil. I do it with all my perennial plants, that no longer look good in containers. Take a look below on what happened next.

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My Secret Garden

Left overs from the old containers

I've chosen secluded , sheltered location in the garden for all those "old" plants. Few seasons later, I discovered that I created a "secret" garden without spending any extra money. Just keep watering and you will be surprised how hardy most of them are.

curated content from Flickr

Water: Too much or too little?

Step #5. How to care for your plants.

Plants love water. It is hard to over water outdoor plants,unlike those, that grow inside. Especially if you use wooden or clay pots. They let the roots breath and actually are the best in my opinion. I do not like to use plates under my outside pots. They collect water and breed mosquitoes. I prefer supports that raise container a little bit, and allow air circulation between the bottom of the pot and patio surface.
Use large water can or garden hose with the "shower" nozzle and take it as a "relaxation" moment, when you water your plants. In dry, hot climates like the one I live in, you may need to do it daily or every other day during summer. If you live in the area where it rains a lot, check the soil condition at least weekly to make sure it is always moist. Good luck!

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Containers can be a nice accent in the garden.

This simple arrangement looks very effective with the grey ground cover in the background.

C: Objects in The Garden

No need for fancy flowers.

The Urn like this makes a statement of its own. Throw few pebbles around it and place small pot with ivy on top, and you have an artful composition. It adds nice touch to the landscape, and takes care of the "impossible to plant spot" in the garden.
I have it under the old tree, where nothing will grow. That is where those glossy tall ceramic containers come handy.You can also use any garden statue or fountain.

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D: Everything Goes.

Few pebbles and colorful marbles in front of your pot, adds Wimsey and unexpected interest to your creation.

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E: Water Feature in The Garden

Fountains are actually quite easy to install

All you need is an electric outlet nearby. They sell special outdoor electric cords in any hardware store. They come in different colors, so you can disguise them. Before you buy your fountain, see if you can connect it to the outlet without exposing the cord too much. I've hidden it under the deck, and planted some ground cover around the fountain to cover the rest of it.

This Fountain Took Only 30 min to Install

Birds love it.

Make sure you can see your fountain from your windows or when relaxing on the patio, as it will become instant birds attraction. You will have a lot of fun watching birds drinking and bathing in your fountain.

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F: Growing Perennials in Containers.

Scroll down for some of mine to get an idea for yourselve.

It is absolutely possible to grow perennials in containers. You can even grow trees in containers. In fact most of my container plants are perennials. I invested in few large containers, and no longer need to re-plant too many pots in spring.

Beauty and the Wind.

"Heuchera Plum Royale"

This perennial looks great in the pot, especially when it is blooming. It is easy to grow, and you do not need to re-pot for several years. Just plant in a 3 times larger container, than the original one. It is often advertised as "shady" plant, but it actually likes morning sun, and will not produce that many flowers if planted in shady area. I use "Bloom booster" fertilizer from Miracle Grow early in spring to encourage flowers. There are many varieties of this plant. I like "Plum Royale" as it seems to be hardier than others from the same family.

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G: My Play Ground

Blues on Blue.

Succulents are easy to grow, and a lot of fun... They do not need much water, but if you are in a dry climate, they will do exceptionally well if you water them frequently.
By the way, they do not need that much sun either. Part shade and even shade in hot climates will do just fine.

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Bamboo Peekaboo.

Bamboo is great for containers. This way you can keep it from spreading all over you garden, and it gives you height, which is key when you want to create an impact. One more trick: if you planting it together with non-invasive plants, put it into planter in it's original container. it still will do fine but will not overpower it's companions.

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Scary Succulents

It was a showstopper last year. I cut it too much though, and this year they do not look as good, but it is still growing and will look good again by the end of summer.
You can propagate those just by cutting a piece and sticking it into the soil. No need to buy tiny expensive seedlings in Home Depot. You do not need even to grow roots in water, as most books suggest. Add "quick start" fertilizer to the can and water your pot right after you planted it.

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H: Grasses Can Grow in Container.

You can grow grasses in containers. It has to be a large container though.. And do not forget to cut in autumn and water in summer.

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A Ground Cover in a Pot?

Do not be afraid to experiment.

This ground cover grows in this little pot for years. It also produces beautiful blue flowers in spring.

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And All Together

This is what it looks like in a group of containers.

Surprise!

Some time it is by accident that you get the best effect. These blue pansies slept through the winter under the canopy of the lilies, and popped up happily in spring to every body's surprise.
Imagine the effect, when you add a flower of the Lilly bush to the picture.

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Would you like to stay in touch?

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Gardening Tools that I find useful

You do not need that many tools, but some of them are essential.
Here they are.

Joshua Roth 1515 Japanese Hori Hori Garden Landscaping Digging Tool With Carbon Steel Blade & Sheath

This is great if you dig around trees or bushes, or any tough soil for smaller plants.

Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 12/01/2009)

Garden Works Ken Ho Garden Weeder

Excellent weeder, especially in flower beds.

Amazon Price: $17.95 (as of 12/01/2009)

Ergonomic Garden Set

This way you will have all you ever may need.

Amazon Price: $36.00 (as of 12/01/2009)

Felco Classic Manual Hand Pruner #F-2

Can not go without shears in the garden. These have very high rating among gardeners.

Amazon Price: $43.18 (as of 12/01/2009)

More of my Flower Creations

Summer goes by so quickly, even in California. These pictures will make it last for ever: all the way to next summer, and to the next...

Just Green.

fern

burgundy all

Blue and pink

Green Lace

Fern in container

Rose tree

Garden Primadonna

potato plant & c...

It is finally bloomi...

Yellow Orchids

New patio tree

My September composi...

Pansies in September

blue pansies

Pecaboo

It is summer

My favorite in sprin...

It is sunny

succulents

curated content from Flickr

My Bouquets

"Painting with Flowers"

When you grow flowers in the garden, you start bringing them inside. I love making flower arrangements. I call it "still life" with live flowers.

Wilted flowers purpl...

Wilted flowers red b...

My Cup of Tea

Pink Roses in White...

Tasty...

table rose b

pansies in a glass

red roses and blue l...

rose bouqet

Contrast is a key

curated content from Flickr

"Painting With Flowers"

"Still life" with live flowers

Flower Arrangements "Know How": Colors, Texture & Shape.

Do you think you need to be an artist to create beautiful flower arrangements? Not at all! But you do need to be aware of several basic concepts that will make your arrangements picture perfect. I am talking about color, texture and shape.. To assure...

How to add Whimzy in the Garden.

You can create mini scenes in your garden.

Here are few of mine.

gnomu

Purple and Grey

Hummingbirds nest

cozy seat

penek

secret garden2

secret garden1

Grey and Blue

Blue and pink

Garden Primadonna

curated content from Flickr

I would love to hear from you!

Please leave a comment here, and rank me with the stars on the top of the page

Thank you so much for visiting my lens!

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submit

Reply

Snozzle Snozzle Aug 14, 2009 @ 11:53 am

What a lovely lens and such great photos. You have an imaginative eye. And thanks for visiting my garden lens a while back.
Mike

Reply

SANIRI SANIRI Aug 3, 2009 @ 2:13 am

Your new blog looks great! A lot of helpful information, good advises and a lot of work.
I like your colorful pictures and I like how you split pictures by the color.

Reply

yetloong yetloong Aug 1, 2009 @ 9:11 am

Great page! Like it a lot.
I used to plant flowers together with my mom in the garden when I was growing up in Malaysia, and really enjoyed the sense of accomplishment when all the flowers blossomed and thrived. Given that I am staying in a small apartment in Singapore certainly doesn't make planting easier, but your page inspired me to get some containers and just plant my favorite flowers at home!

Reply

Miriam_Alice Miriam_Alice Jul 26, 2009 @ 7:10 pm

Your page is easy to navigate and your pictures make me want to plant my own flowers :) coming to your container gardening class was very illuminating and made me see gardening is not so hard - you don't have to have a green thumb to do it! I love both blogs and look forward to getting updates on the growth and beauty in your garden!

Reply

Angelus Angelus Jul 17, 2009 @ 6:29 pm

Nice lens with stunningly good photos!

Reply

mshtein mshtein Jul 17, 2009 @ 4:05 pm

Very very nice. You should consolidate your two blogs in one.

Reply

Nata_S Nata_S Jul 16, 2009 @ 12:28 pm | in reply to Olga

I have a new project coming in my garden. We just cleared some bushes along the fence. It will be a challenge, as I will need to incorporate left oevr stumps into solution. I will kep you posted.

Reply

Olga Olga Jul 16, 2009 @ 9:47 am

Natasha, very good job in garden as well as in blog

Reply

chessqueen chessqueen Jul 10, 2009 @ 1:34 pm

Your page is very colorful and informative. I like it a lot!

Inna
www.miracleclay.net

Reply

Nata_S Nata_S Jul 10, 2009 @ 9:00 am

I love planting in containers. It is easy to do and you can create colorful composition very quickly.
I will share my tips and tricks with you on this page, so you can be a gardener too!

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Love This Lens?

Links to the blogs I like.

[Link to top of the Introduction Module.]

Amazing work by Russian Artist/florist/photographer Luiza Gelts: These are the most beautiful and artful photos of flowers I ever seen
YouTube - The rose is the rose is the rose!: I can photograph roses endlessly! The same rose is different every moment of the day.
Work by my friend Inna Zatulovsky, who made some of the pictures on my blog: "painting with flowers."
Photo slide shows: 'We do not remember days; we remember moments'This lens is about my passion for Photography and how to lift it up by creating slide shows using amazing technology we have today" by Inna Zatulovsky.
Two Women's Journal on Flowers, Photography and everything in between.: ..one night we decided to combine our passion for flowers, her love for photography , my love of playing with words, and our recently acquired hobby: blogging on the net.....

My Favorite Books On a Subject.

Need Inspiration? Do not know where to start?

These books are not just practical, but beautiful and well written.
It is such a pleasant reading on slow Sunday morning, not to mention a wealth of tips and ideas.