I’ve been gardening at my home in Durham for over 15 years and have reached the point where I can really focus on the containers in my garden, swapping out plants each season to add impact and drama. Read on for 3 ways that containers can add impact to your space.
A Container as a Focal Point
(Above: A container set in my pea gravel patio.)
In my back yard I have a large pea gravel patio with Adirondack chairs. Rather than centering the chairs around a fire pit that would be used a handful of times each year I placed a large flagstone and topped it with an antique Japanese container filled with a mix of annuals, perennials and grasses.
A Container as a Long Term Filler
(Above: A container holding space next to a Weeping Japanese Maple.)
In my front yard I have a weeping Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum ‘Viridis’. This is a slow growing tree that can get quite large – reaching 10-12’ wide after many years. It’s important to site this tree with enough room to grow, but that can leave quite a bit of open space in the short term. Adding a container to the open space helped anchor the tree and can be relocated as it requires more space.
A Container and Shrub Combo for Entrance Drama
(Above: Mixing shrubs with boxwood for year round interest.)
At the entrance to our front walkway I used a combination of boxwood planted in the ground with multiple ceramic containers planted with seasonal color. The boxwood anchors the containers and provides consistent evergreen structure while the containers add color and drama. Mixing the two together makes a statement and highlights the entrance.
Interested in adding containers to your garden? Contact Beth at [email protected] or complete our contact form. You can also learn more about our residential container program here!