The nurseries are being filled with flowers so it's time to pot some plants! Here's how we do from start to finish.
There was a pot in utter need of filling as it stands at our front entrance and our specialty miniature tree did not make it through the last winter. So this process began with the pot in mind (tall and square shaped) and the plants needed to lend themselves to the pot. If you begin with the plants in mind, then the pot can lend itself to the plants. You'll also want to consider where the pot will live: how many hours of sun will the plants in the pot receive each day?
Usually we pick our plants based on color and shape of blossoms and leaves with some attention to deer resistance. Aroma and texture can also play a role. [Yes, I have bought a plant simply because its leaves were so soft to touch! - wormwood/ artemisia absinthium ] Today's available selection at the shop veered us toward purple as a theme with some orange for a splash of drama. Also, who can resist a beautiful calla lily? Always make sure that the plants that share a pot share the same sun and water needs so everyone can live together happily.
We built a substructure for the inside of this large pot by stacking a cinderblock and some plastic trays that the plants are sold in at the store. When a suitable inner height was reached, the fun began!
After plants are removed from their original containers, they are arranged for height and color and texture variation. Because this pot is basically visible on 3 sides with the fourth facing a wall, putting the tallest element in the back corner of the diamond seemed to be the best choice. Then the other plants were arranged in descending order to create an interesting viewpoint from each direction.
The gaps around the root systems need to be filled with potting soil and then gently watered down to remove air gaps and then filled again. This will protect the plants throughout the summer from root exposure. You can also add more soil beneath any plant that does not stand as tall as you would like it in the arrangement.
We do have many deer friends that visit our yard throughout the year and while we love their visits, we don't love when come for deer buffet! Although the plant selection [calla lily, geranium, dahlia, lavender (aromatic), and dianthus] are all deer resistant, they are not deer proof. So this pot will be covered with net as are many other plants in our yard. There were still some sticks around from when the crepe myrtles were trimmed ("Waste Not, Want Not") and they made a perfect structure to add some more height to the arrangement and to hold the net above the flowers.
Here's the finished product. Let us know if you need any pots planted :)
p.s. Save the plant identifiers that come with the flowers by tucking them in the edge of your pot. At the end of the season, they'll remind you which plants should be saved for next year (perennials) and which can be discarded (annuals).
p.p.s. Annuals have been known upon occasion to reseed and come back another season.
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