How to Change your Container Gardens for each Season

extend the growing season and add color to your landscape all year long with the help of containers select a weatherproof container with drainage holes to avoid over watering or consider using a self-watering pot or enlist the aid of trickle irrigation in a timer to reduce the time spent watering grow plants in a quality well-drained potting mix incorporate milorganite fertilizer into the soil before planting or sprinkle it on the soil surface once planted this low nitrogen slow release fertilizer provides weeks of nutrients for your container garden and best of all no weekly measuring and mixing needed let me share a few examples including this one i just planted i've used the thriller filler and spiller design great for beginners and experienced gardeners alike for cool months we've used scinetti as our vertical accent or thriller notice i left it in its original container this way it will be easier to replace when this cool weather bloomer fades as temperatures rise for fillers i added ornamental cabbage that echoes the cinnetti's color and yellow and orange pansies for contrast then i finished it off with sedum angelina as a spiller notice how the repetition of color and variety of textures creates unity and interest in the planter here are a few more examples of cool season combinations it's now summer the temperatures have risen and it's time to switch out our faded plants with heat lovers to keep our gardens looking good and that's what we're doing here even though our sonetti is still looking good it is being overpowered by the ornamental cabbage so i'll put the cinnetti in a decorative pot so i can enjoy it a bit longer and replace it with our new thriller black and blue salvia great for birds bees and butterflies i am removing the pansies and decided to leave the space for the angelina sedum to fill in and provide color for the remainder of the season add some morganite fertilizer with each change of season the organic nitrogen feeds the existing plants and won't harm the tender new additions here are a couple more warm season combinations to enjoy and don't let your containers go empty as the holidays draw near filled with greens colorful and very covered twigs and seasonal decorations and as you change out your containers throughout the year be sure to have fun and let creativity be your guide