Combining Plants in Pots and Boxes ~ Tips for Success
A.Always make sure your containers have drainage holes. If you’re using new plastic window boxes, be sure to drill drainage holes before you plant.
B. Be sure to use all new, fresh potting mix in smaller pots and boxes. In containers that are deeper than two feet you can take out the top half of the old soil, loosen the lower part with a shovel or trowel, and fill the top with fresh mix. New potting mix is important because older media that was planted in previous years doesn’t have good drainage so your new plants aren’t going to grow as well.
C. Containers can be fertilized easily for the entire summer by combining one part of a time-release, synthetic fertilizer such as Shake n’ Feed with an equal part of an organic product such as Plant-tone. This combination will feed your annuals all summer.
Use the following plant combination suggestions, assembled from the plants we have in our annual section:
Reliable All Summer Blooming in Sunny Locations
This combination of plants will produce flowers all summer in a sunny location. You won’t have to deadhead these plants. The blue Scaevola and the white Snow Princess Lobularia will cascade over the edges of the container. The coral (or choose another color!) New Guinea Impatiens can be placed in the back and it will mound up as the summer goes on. Place the Pink Mandevilla plants on each end of a window box or in the center front of a round container.
A Classic Combo for Shade
Blue, yellow and white is a classic color combination for Cape Cod. These plants are perfect for boxes and pots in shady locations. The blue is Endless Illumination Browallia and the yellow is a begonia, both from Proven Winners. Plant these with white wax begonias (now available in six packs, and soon in 4″ pots). You can use Ivy to trail over the edges if desired.
An Aromatherapy Container
Herbs combine beautifully for a pot that’s ready to provide instant aromatherapy on a deck or patio. This grouping is, from left to right in the rear, a purple sage, a tall lemon verbena, and a lemon thyme. In the front are a curry plant and lavender. Plant these together in well-drained potting mix and grow the group in full sun.
Bees and Butterflies on a Budget
If you want to attract bees and butterflies to your pots and boxes, and you’re on a budget, use the packs of single marigolds and zinnias. Larger containers can include Cut and Come Again Zinnias, but Profusion Zinnias can be used in smaller pots or when shorter plants are needed. Be sure to get the single marigolds, pictured here, since these offer more pollen and nectar than the pompom style doubles.
Let’s Go Wild!
One of the latest trends in window boxes and large pots is a wildflower meadow look. To achieve this, be sure to include either a grass, reed or small papyrus such as the Queen Tut pictured. Add some pink or white Gaura, and the white Euphorbia Diamond Frost. For this grouping I chose a Campfire Flame Bidens to mound around the other plants, and a Mecardonia Gold Dust to cascade over the front of the container.
See more combination ideas and photos of finished window boxes on this post, and this one, from our blog entries in the past. Note that many of the photos included in those posts were taken on Nantucket, where the gardeners and landscapers take window box combinations to high levels.
And when you’re ready to move from inspiration to installation, come into 380 West Main St and be amazed by the incredible selection of annuals, herbs and other plants.
