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Show Notes

Do you love outdoor planters but hate having to take care of them? Use these container gardening tips to find the right plants and easy beauty.

Today’s links: ely.how/episode34

Easy Container Gardening – Show Outline

How to have easy potted flowers

  • Best plants
  • Good design
  • Right pot, right space
  • Best planter type
  • Good location
  • What we do

Best potted flowers and plants

  • Adaptable to a wide range of water conditions
  • Specific sun requirements
  • Appropriate soil
  • Year-round hardiness
  • Year-round interest

Container Gardening Design

  • Thriller, spiller, filler
  • Look good together
  • Same growth requirements
  • Structure matches space and pot
  • Get a good pot!
  • Get matching pot designs!
  • Set pots in the right place

How to match your garden planters to the space

  • Fit the structure and intent
  • Porch – tall, symmetry plants
  • Window – horizontal, spilling over
  • Big open space – bigger, broader plants and pots
  • Small spaces – smaller accent or more vertical

Best outdoor planters

  • Self-watering planters!
  • Bottom reservoir for storing water
  • Water wicks into soil area
  • Consistent moisture
  • Less frequent watering
  • Check links for resources

How we use outdoor planters

  • Front entry
  • Window boxes
  • Back patio
  • Mother’s Day!

Where to put garden planters

  • Mailbox
  • Driveway
  • Within reach of hose!
  • Walkway
  • Framing garage
  • Front porch steps

Today’s favorite plant

  • Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
  • NA native, naturalized in Europe
  • Evergreen
  • 1-2ft tall, 1-2ft wide
  • Dry to medium moisture
  • Part shade to full shade
  • Average to high fertility
  • West Coast – Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum)