The hardest thing about summer planters is deciding when to plant them, the spectre of frost is always there. If you have planters that can be moved you can bring them in at night or invest in some garden fleece it can keep 2 or 3 degrees of frost away.
Or just wait and plant after the risk of frost has passed.
The great thing about summer plants is that they are just starting and have 3 or 4 months to grow.
Your plants will double or triple in size, the biggest problem is the wide range of plants available.
If you look after them, checking the watering, removing dead flowers and with regular liquid fertiliser or slow release fertiliser your baskets they will flower throughout the summer and well into the autumn.
Add some summer flowering bulbs to your planters, they will pop up in midsummer an unexpected bonus of colour. Mini gladioli, alliums, lilies or something different like eucomis or acidanthera.
Choosing plants for your planter
To make a mixed planter using different types of plants can look complicated so to help you decide, I have split them into 3 groups using a clock to describe the habit
For a mixed planter choose a tall plant for height, some semi-trailing for filling and if the planter is high enough, use some trailing plants to hang down.
This is often described as Thrillers (tall) Fillers (semi-trailing) and Spillers (trailing) an American concept designed to help with choosing plants for containers.
Upright plants
10-2 o’clock
Taller plants for the middle of your planter often called the focal or main plant
Summer thrillers
A range of taller plants that are perfect for using in summer patio pots and hanging baskets, to add height and texture. geraniums A selection…
Semi- trailing
2-4 8-10
o’clock
Semi trailing spreading plants often called fillers
Summer fillers
A range of bushy flowering and foliage plants, to provide colour and fill up your patio pots and hanging baskets A wide range of colourful…
Summer spillers
A range of trailing plants used to fill in the sides of patio pots and the base of hanging baskets A range of cool summer…
It is possible to make a planter out of just one type of plant, they can look very effective. The secret is to use enough plants to create a bit of crowding this will force the middle up to create height and around the edges to improve the trailing effect. You can make a good basket out of any of the semi-trailing habit plants.
Are you a frustrated designer, do you have an eye for colour and fashion.
Making a planter or hanging basket, allows you to develop your designing skills, on a small scale. You can move plants around to find the best combinations, play with textures and change colours.
A planter will allow you to test colour combinations and shapes, unlike home furnishings or paint, plants change shape and colour as they grow, the possibilities are limitless.
