I love any opportunity to be creative and container gardening is one of them. As we inch towards warmer weather, I am scouring the web for unique container gardening inspiration. My local nursery should be starting to stock their products and I will soon be walking their aisles looking for new and different things.
You don’t always have to plant flowers in your pots. Look at shrubs and perennial plants that you can transplant in the fall into your garden after enjoying them for a season on your porch or patio. Also, pots are not limited to decks and porches; you can place them in your garden for some height
First, Go Shopping in Your Own Garden
When I first toured my home, I fell in love with the large variety of hostas that the previous owner had planted in the yard. I had no idea that you could split them so many times and that they would come back bigger and healthier the next year! The beauty of splitting the hostas is that we have been able to share them with friends and help landscape their gardens.
This year I want to take some of my hostas and plant them in my pots and urns. They will not cost me a dime and won’t require as much watering as flowers.
If you have a problem with deer eating your hostas or other plants, try LaTorre’s Deer Out Repellant. You can only buy it on-line. We have been using it for years. It has a minty scent and is not offensive like many other repellents. It truly works. (This is not a sponsored post; strictly my opinion). My husband buys it in the concentrate form and mixes it with water in his sprayer.
Pair Plants that Compliment Each Other
This planter is stunning! The variegated Caladium gives the planter height and the Maidenhair Fern adds color. It’s the perfect combination and this white urn is a nice contrast against the green plants.
I couldn’t find the name of this taller plant in this photo but it is surrounded by the perennial fern that I have in my yard. The ivy trails out of the pot in the front. The different shades of green complement each other. If you know the name of the taller plant, please share in the comments below.
A Regal Fern
The official name for this gorgeous fern with burnt orange plumes is Osmunda Regalis. I have a half-dozen of these in my yard and was told they were also called Cinnamon Ferns. They are a perennial and come back every year. I love the idea of putting them in the pot where they can spread out as shown above. They appear so Regal! The ones in my yard are planted too close together. I can’t wait to show off one in a pot next to my potted hosta. I like the combination above of the blue-green hosta leaves against the green fern.
Lilly of the Valley
My mother had Lilies of the Valley planted on the side of our house when I was growing up. I loved how dainty they were but I remember they spread like crazy and we had to pull them from spreading into the grass. If you are blessed to have them in your garden, place some in a pot!
Container Gardening with Potted Shrubs
These potted shrubs grouped together are beautiful. They add height and color to the cement patio and create a cozy barrier between the patio and the grass.
Container Gardening with Flowering Shrubs
I love flowering shrubs, especially ones that bloom all summer. Enjoy one such as this flowering hydrangea on your patio and then transplant it in the fall into your garden so that it will bloom next year.
If you would like more inspiration, visit my previous post, Container Gardening Worthy of Pinning where I share photos from gorgeous planters around Easton Town Center in my great city of Columbus.
I hope these container gardening ideas have inspired you for your summer gardening. I know I can’t wait to pull my pots out and start planting! How about you?
Potted planters dress up the most boring patio or deck!
I love planting in pots and window boxes more than in the yard! The pots do dress up the patio!
Elaine, thanks for all the great ideas. I like the all green pot. I might have to try a couple.
Thanks Sherry! Plants are certainly lower maintenance than flowers … no dead heading needed!
I love the different Maidenhair ferns! I’ve never seen those before and they are so lush and beautiful! I love the flowering bush too! And hostas! And Lilies of the Valley! So much inspiration!
Thanks Lydia. Sometimes I have to go to 4 or 5 different nurseries to find the unique plants I want. Happy planting!
I love these planters and will do some like this in the summer. The name of the tall green plant in the 3rd photo that you asked for is aspidistra, also known as cast iron plant.
Thank you Kathy for your comment on the blog. Although I love to garden, I don’t always know the name of plants. Thanks for helping me out! Can’t wait for spring to start digging in the dirt!
Or copperhead plant as we call it in louisiana. Copperhead love to hang out in them.
Oh my Kathy … that would scare me!
The container with the perennial ferns surrounding the thriller is called Aspidistra common name (Cast Iron plant).
Thanks Tina!
You have given me much food for thought! I love all those ideas! I planted Lillies of the Valley on the side of our home and I don’t know what all was wrong– location, ground, too much sun, but they tried to come back one year but never after that. I think them being under the overhang dried them out and they may not have had enough water. Having them in a container would look so beautiful and lush. I love them, so that broke my heart when they didn’t live. I’m gonna try it!! Also maybe my young hydrangeas!
Thank you for the ideas!
I love Lillies of the Valley and they remind me of my childhood. My mom had them on the side of our house. I am a big fan of container gardening. Let me know how they do in your pots!
Hi, lots of lovely ideas here, and very well presented. One small point on spelling, the word is complement (with an e), if you are referring to the plants together completing an effect, or about adding to something in a way that enhances or improves it. Compliment with an “i’ is means a polite expression of praise or admiration.
Thanks Liz! I didn’t catch that when proofing. Glad you enjoyed the post.
The tall plant in the pot with ivy and ferns looks like it could be an aspidestra. Love that pot, looks great
Thanks Lynn!
Sometimes called. “cast iron” plant. It is aspidestra.
The taller plant of the third photo is ASPIDISTRA.
Thanks Berta!
The tall plant in back in planter is a iron plant.
Thanks Barbara!
The name of the plant with the ivy and ferns is Aspidistra Elatior or cast iron plant
The tall plant is Aspidistra, also know as the cast iron plant. It also comes in a variegated variety. They can work well as an indoor plant because they tolerate low light. Your planters are gorgeous!
Loved your ideas! I live in Canada, would they all have to be transferred to a garden in the fall or just put in a shed over winter?
I’m sorry Vicki but I do not know anything about gardening with the cold temps of Canada. I would check with your local nursery.
The tall plant is Aspidistra (cast iron plant)