This is how to make your porch containers look professionally done.
Bright, bold, and bursting with color. That’s the best way to describe those stunning flower displays that you see outside malls and movie theaters… but they don’t just happen by chance. Whether you’re dressing up your front porch or your back patio, we are sharing what it takes to pull together a stunning floral showpiece.
Brian Lloyd, with Olson’s Greenhouse, shared three secrets to growing large and luscious container gardens this year.
The Importance of Soil Volume
Brian emphasized the importance of soil volume. Planting in a large container is the best way to make sure that your plants make it through the hot summer months. “The bigger that you go, the more buffer you’ve got for mistakes,” Brian explained. “If you miss a watering, if you don’t feed it as well, this will hold more water, it will hold more nutrients, and it will get us through those days when we might mess up a little bit.” Brian recommended using containers that are, at the very least, 16 to 18 inches in diameter, but ideally 20 to 30 inches for the best results.
He acknowledged that with a big container, it will cost to fill it up. “ It’s true that you have to pay to fill it up, but that will pay off in dividends down the road,” he emphasized.
Watering Made Easy
Maintaining these beautiful displays requires consistent care, but Brian shared how to make it easier. He suggested using drip irrigation systems or self-watering planters. “Put a drip irrigation system in to water your containers on a timer every day, and then you’ll never miss a beat,” he advised.
If you can’t install drip irrigation, self-watering planters are a great alternative. They have a reservoir that holds water and slowly feeds it to the plants, reducing the need for frequent watering. Brian highlighted Crescent Garden self-watering planters. “They’ll hold gallons of water and slowly feed it to the plant every day. You don’t have to fill these up, like, more than every week or two even,” he explained.
Choosing the Right Plants
The final secret to successful container gardening is picking the right plants. Brian suggested plants that are made to grow big. “ You need things like wave petunias or supertunias to get you through the summer and have a big, large, luscious, container,” he explained.
He specifically mentioned Vista Supertunias, which can spread up to three feet per plant. “I’ve taken six of them and a sweet potato vine… This is like, a bulletproof summer long mall type planter in your front yard,” he shared.
Purchase TruDrop, self-watering containers from crescentgarden.com.
Find the giveaway Brian mentioned here.
Be sure to check out the annual ContainerFest event at Utah Home locations, happening this Saturday, April 26 from 8 am – 2 pm at Utah Wasatch Front Home Depot stores.
Find more flowers at ogg.com.
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