less gas, more efficient
height and visual impact, such as canna, with
full, bushy “filler” plants, such as day lily, and
“spiller” plants, such as petunias, to cascade over
the edges and soften the container, suggests
Wise. And, she says, “Remember to mix in fine
foliage with your big foliage and to add a little
repetition or echo of color among the plants that
are used to add cohesiveness to the planting.”
Ornamental grasses are another impres-
sive way to add dimension to a pot, especially
one with perennials, says Moss-Sprague. If
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31
you’re going the edible route, she suggests
stacking a bright-red cherry tomato plant in
the middle of a large, high pot, and surrounding it with scallions and herbs to create
unique color combos. Another common
rule of thumb: Keep the height of the flowers less than one and a half times the height
of the pot used for the arrangement. C
Kate Parham ( www.kateparham.com) is a
Washington, D.C.–based freelance writer.
Item #935253
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Container care tips from the experts
1. Never use a dirty container: Harmful organisms can linger on the inside. Rinse it with
¼ cup of chlorine bleach and 1 gallon of water. Allow to dry, preferably in the sun.
2. Start with a quality soil mix, not garden or topsoil.
3. Ensure adequate drainage. Few plants thrive in waterlogged soil, so it’s
important that containers have at least one drainage hole in the bottom.
4. Provide sufficient water. Soil in containers tends to dry out
quickly. To test, stick your finger in the soil up to the
second knuckle. If it’s dry, water. If it’s wet, wait.
5. Know when to repot. “It’s time when you see roots
poking out of the drainage hole in the bottom of the
pot, [or] if you stick your finger into the soil and
[it’s] completely full of fibrous roots,” says
author Fern Richardson, who provides two easy
steps to repotting. First, remove the plant and
loosen its roots; if you’re reusing it, trim off 25
percent of the roots. Second, add fresh soil and
place the plant in the new pot.—KP
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Item 935331
Available mid-May
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