I, too, have several large patio pots to fill. They flank sets of garage doors that face east, giving them morning sun. I prefer to change up every year and try different plant combinations. Whatever I choose, the large pots usually end up with a very full look.

In the past, I've gone with the old stand-by of red, white and blue in the form of red geraniums, white and blue petunias, a spike for height and variegated vinca vine for a trailing effect. To that combo, I've added white and blue lobelia, blue ageratum and white alyssum. The look is very patriotic. Blue salvia or other red, white and blue flowers can be used with a similar effect.

Last year, I opted for a colorful combination of reds, purples and chartreuse, using spikes as center height with coleus in varying shades of red, purple and lime green. The trailers were sweet potato vines in both purple and charteuse, creeping jenny and either bacopa or bright yellow million bells. The mid-range plants included heliotrope, red geranium, purple pansies and bright colored heuchera. The effect was stunning! I received lots of compliments on the overflowing containers!

This year, I'm trying to eliminate the expected. Instead of spikes, I want to use dwarf canna as the height, in shades of red/orange and yellow. I'll probably include dwarf yellow daylilies, petunias in yellow, purple and red, orange lantana, heliotrope, and perhaps an english ivy as the trailer. I never really know what I'll use until I see what the garden center has to offer in the way of annuals and 3 or 4 inch potted specialty plants.

Since the gardening style here leans toward country/cottage, I prefer to fill the patio pots quite full of different plant types for that over-stuffed country look, but I'm sure that the containers would look equally good with only one plant type for impact. I've also thought that they'd look nice with a standard type plant and ivy as the under-planting.

Over the years, I've learned that pretty much any annual or perennial/annual combination can work as a group container planting as long as the plants have similar requirements. I never count out a plant just because it's never been tried as part of a container planting before. Some of the prettiest combinations I've seen aren't what you'd think of when the words "patio pot" are mentioned. The sky is the limit, and I try to give my planters a new look each spring!

jodik,
How many plants do you place in what size pot. I have 2 different sized round containers. Some are 13 1/2" across (inside lip) and the others are 17". I usually put 3-5 plants in these. It sounds like you put at least 5 plants in each container, but I'm not sure how big your containers are. For a fuller effect, should I be adding more and ignore the suggested spacing? I really want some full beautiful pots this year!
Thanks!
Cindy

It's my feeling that the suggested plant spacing on the tag is just too far apart, unless you're planting directly into the garden, and will take the plants too long to grow into the full arrangement that's so eye-catching. I literally stuff my planters full!

The patio pots I use are approximately 17 to 24 inches across at the widest part. They're quite large! I don't worry about spacing at all. I begin planting the center of the pots, and work my way to the outer edge where the shorter or trailing plants would go. I normally plant items in threes or fives... even numbers of plants look too stiff and planned.

I sometimes plant annuals so close together in my pots that their root balls are almost touching. I feed the plants well throughout the season, and if a plant doesn't grow well, I rip it out and replace it with something else.

Here's an example of how I might stuff a pot... I begin with a spike in the center, bought in a 3 or 4 inch pot. Then, I space 3 geraniums around the spike evenly. Those usually come in a 3 or 4 inch pot. Then, I'll plant 3 blue salvia plants in between the geraniums. I move on to the next row, placing 5 petunia plants around the pot, and fill in between those with another annual in a similar height. Finally, I move on to the edge, where I might alternate a trailing plant with a short plant... perhaps vinca vine and lobelia or alyssum. Most annuals come in 4-packs or a number close to that.

There are no hard and fast rules for planting containers with annuals. The best way to achieve a full look relatively fast is to plant the flowers closer together. I wouldn't plant vegetables close together because I'd want them to produce, but annual flowers don't mind being crowded, as long as you take good care of the plantings... water and feed as they require.

I'm aware that planting things too close together might not be the best for root development, but we're talking about annual flowers that only live until the weather gets cold in fall. They are replaced each year with new plantings. If I lived in a warm climate in which my plantings would be in the same container for a very long time, I'd space the plants farther apart, but I'm in zone 5... I only get to enjoy these flowers from May until frost! And I want to see full results quickly!

You should see how full I jam my hanging baskets! I stuff about 5 plants into an 8 or 10 inch basket! I'll remove the soil from the plants' root balls to get them all into the basket... but within a short amount of time, I have a wonderfully full basket of cascading plants! And if anything looks overgrown during the season, I either trim it a bit, or change it out with something else.

O.K., I'll try stuffing my pots a little more this year. I'm anxious to get to the garden center and see the combos I can come up with. I actually did my 3 pots on my front porch (13 1/2") with only 2 impatiens and 1 vinca vine in each pot. I'm going to pick up some more to add to those after reading your comments and go for it this year! I'd love to see photos of your pots when you start them and when they are in full bloom if you ever post pictures. I'll try to do the same.

Jodi, I like how you planted your pots. Is it possible you post a photo of your containers? I'm also a container-gardener but I never know how to combine for showy effects!

One main reason being I don't have all those plants that many of you guys do, so I'd normally end up making my containers look a mess or that I only have one plant in each container!!! So boring, I suppose.

Perhaps I can list what plants I have and then you guys can recommend.
Here're what I can normally find:
- sweet Williams;
- petunias
- vinca
- marigold
- spider plant (cleome?)
- daisy gerbera
- impatiens
- coleus
- ivy
- fern
- snap dragons.

Thanks for your advice.

Xuan

In Zone 5 we almost always have to stuff our pots with annuals -- the growing season is too short. In any case, here is a link to a post last year where we shared our container pictures. Hope you find it inspirational!

Here is a link that might be useful: Container pics

There are several aspects to creating a cohesive look in a planting arrangement... color, plant shape, texture, scale, height and growth habit, etc...

The reason a typical planting of spikes, geraniums and vinca vine looks so good together is because you have a nice contrast between the long, strap-like green leaves of the spike and the rounded leaves and flower color of the geranium... and the contrast between the vining habit and variegation of the vinca and the growth habit and color of the spike, etc...

I usually choose a color palate and work from there... last year, I used purples and chartreuse as the main colors. This year, I'm going for orange, reds, salmon and yellows as the main colors, with blue and white or silver as accents. I'll know the right combo when I see it!

Xuan - I think Sweet William would look great if planted with petunias in white or pinks, and some variegated english ivy... and something tall and green as height, with a contrasting leaf shape. Cleome may be a bit too tall for containers, unless you can find a dwarf variety, or inter-plant it with something that compliments the scale of that particular plant.

I had fully intended to take lots of photos this year to post... so, I went outside yesterday to get new shots of the bulb beds in bloom... and I dropped the camera on the cement floor of the garage and now it doesn't work! I could kick myself for not being more careful!! I'm absolutely sick about it! We've had that camera for quite a while, and could probably use an updated version, but I'm so mad at myself for not paying closer attention while carrying it!!

My wonderful husband said it's no big deal... it's just a camera. Accidents happen, and we'll simply get a new camera. Even if I have to borrow a digital camera or buy a disposable one temporarily, I am going to get shots of the gardens and patio pots as things progress.

This is the only photo I have of last year's planters... you can see that I used both annuals and perennials in my arrangement... see how the colors and shapes compliment each other by contrast?

{{gwi:13868}}

Here's an idea that I use sometimes when I'm having a mental block... I'll go to Lowe's or Home Depot or Meijer's and thumb through the gardening magazines and books... especially any that advertise how to do combination container plantings. A few years ago, I bought some books and magazines that deal mostly with container gardening... just going back to them from time to time for a peek gives me a fresh perspective, and lots of new ideas!

Jodi - I stuff all my containers like you do w/ great results. I live where the summers get very hot & humid,esp at nite, & I just pull out or cut back what doesn't look great with no ill effects. I am using Al's mix as the potting medium and you wouldn't believe how easy it is to plant & stuff those different size root balls in the containers. I use all different sizes & shapes and alot of hanging pots. I potted a few planters late yesterday & DH commented he couldn't believe how much faster & easier it was for me using Al's mix. I recommend it highly for annuals.
nixon - Thanks for posting that link - it is great for inspiration - I enjoyed it last year.

Jodi, That's a beautiful arrangement! I'll have to look at perennials, too.
Nixon, Thanks for that link! Those pics gave me even more ideas!
We have a possibility of frost tomorrow or Wednesday with warmer temps. by the end of the week so I'm going to hold off on going to the garden center until then. I can't wait to play around with all these options.

Thanks, Cindy! And thanks to Nixon for posting that link! That's what I'm talking about! There are so many options for creating eye-popping container arrangements... it boggles the mind!

When I hit the garden center, I immediately get drawn in by all the wonderful items displayed, and for a minute I can't remember what I originally was going to look for! Then, after drooling over all the selections for a while, I begin choosing my plants based on the colors I want to use, and the types of plants I want to put together.

More and more, I find myself using a combination of annuals AND perennials! The perennials will be planted in the garden after I've enjoyed them in the containers all summer.

I, too, have discovered the benefits of using Al's Mix! I mostly use it for my bulb collection, but I've also mixed it with regular MiracleGro potting soil for use in other containers, and it's perfect! I haven't mixed a large batch yet, but plan to as soon as I can get all the necessary ingredients together in bulk!

We had very cold weather yesterday, and last night we got frost! I pulled some pots back into the garage, just in case. I always get seduced by the beautiful warm weather of April, and I so want to jump the gun and plant everything! But I know that until May 15th, we have the possibility of frost and chilly weather! I just hope the frost didn't kill or burn too much... I have lilacs in bloom and tons of bulbs in flower, as well!

So... to recap... containers are like blank canvases, and you, the artist! Paint them however you wish! Don't be afraid to experiment with different plant combinations... if something doesn't work, simply change it! Stuff those planters full with color and texture! Who knows? You might stumble upon a combination that just knocks your socks off! Gardening of any kind should be enjoyable, so go for it!

One word of warning, though... be careful at the garden center... or you'll come home with an overload of plants and an empty purse!

We've got chilly rainy windy weather also - I did plant a few planters, because I couldn't keep from buying plants - I really am staying out of the garden centers for now- these plants jumped into my arms in unsuspecting places! I got soome gorgeous Wave Petunias at the Farm supply when I went to buy the bark fines - that led to marigolds, and some daisys, and vinca......
Sometimes I take a list - I have a plan - then a beautiful plant will scream my name! Well, you know the rest ............Like Jodi said, experiment, look at pictures for ideas, just keep their sun & water habits similar , and have fun!!!

When I enter any garden center, I can distinctly hear ALL the plants calling my name! They say, "Take me home! Please! You know you want to!" And I have to restrain my self... it's not easy, I tell ya!

And after spending all winter cooped up in the house, with seed and plant catalogs and magazines arriving... all with those wonderfully colorful and tempting pictures... well, it's no wonder I way overspend every spring! To help offset the cost of plant materials, I've begun to grow quite a few of the more common varieties from seed. A pack of seed is way cheaper than a flat of flowers!

I can't believe what they get for Wave Petunias! But they are sort of worth the price... they do perform well! I remember when an entire flat of mixed annuals only set you back by about 5 dollars... it's gotten rather expensive to feed my container arrangement habit every year!

I have plans to go flea-marketing and shopping this coming Sunday... and I just know I won't be able to resist loading the car with the annuals I'll need for all the patio pots! It won't matter if I take a list with me, or not... I'll still buy more than I should, and I'll end up with extra plants that will make up a "mix and match" hanging basket or something... I always wind up with a few annuals that just don't fit the scheme!

Well... I wish everyone luck in choosing and planting their container arrangements! I'm really looking forward to seeing how everyone else interprets this particular art form! I'll definitely be keeping a photo diary of sorts... I always enjoy sharing with the forums!

One of the tricks I use is to take a cut-out of the opening of the container that I am going to plant in. That way, I end up with "almost" just enough plants. Notice, I say "almost" because I always have a few left over. Also, with a cut-out, I can also arrange the plants I am interested in to get a feel of how they would actually look in the container. Enjoy -- the season is almost upon us (in Zone 5)!