I may have a longer growing season but it is not a particularly hot one. In fact, our weather this spring has been so crummy I am only now starting my seasonal containers.

There are only a few secrets to successful container growing and you have already discovered most of them - combine plants that prefer similar growing conditions and start off with a good quality potting medium. Since my seasonal containers tend to feature annuals or half hardy tropicals that need to come on strong quickly, I use a good dose of a slow release fertilizer (something like Osmocote) mixed into the potting soil.

It depends on the combo as to what size plants I select. Generally I pick something already pretty well developed for the focus and then fill in with smaller but fast growing material. And for the seasonal containers, I overplant for immediate impact - they are only going to around for a few months so go for impact rather than long term growing conditions. I also pinch back a number of plants to encourage fullness or bushy growth - coleus, perilla, plactranthus, helichrysum, petunias/calibrachoa, impatiens etc. Another little tip is to include something that grows pretty big, even in a small container - cannas, caladiums, melianthus, alocasias, hostas - these will very quickly provide a very full, lush appearance.

And keep the containers well-maintained - water often as necessary, deadhead and continue to fertilize with a dilute liquid every other week.

You might want to check out the Fine Gardening special interest publication 'Container Gardening' for some ideas and inspiration and some very cool plants to use in seasonal containers.

Nicely said, Pam. Great advice - as usual. ;o)

Al

Just follow the rules gardengal48 suggested. It takes a while to know your way around planting, light, watering, soil etc. I find in my zone, even though I'm planting full sun plants, they do better with more than a little shade. And also, when you cram the pot with plants, be prepared for some casualties, it comes with the territory. For instance, in one of window boxes, I have a gallon size lavender, two quart size daisies, two quart size million, bells, alyssum from a six pack, and 1 quart size bacopa.
Only the strong will survive. The bacopa is showing signs of stress. So I will have to keep an eye on it if it doesn't thrive. Maybe you can start with some easy growers that don't require a lot of fuss and see where it takes you. All of it is trial and error for most of us anyway. Don't feel bad.

Here are a couple of my window boxes from last summer.I plant in a soiless mix and fertilize with miracle grow about once a week.I use a weaker solution than it calls for on the package.You really need to pack those little plants in,and water often as they do dry out fast in the summer heat.Also make sure that the plants you use are suitable for the amount of sun they will recieve.
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The first picture has Impatiens,German Ivy and Coleus,and it gets about half day of sun.The second gets a little more dappled shade from a tree,and it has Impatiens,Trailing Lobelia and Sweet Potato Vine.

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very nice pics

Eliza Ann

Now that is truly glorious!

Thanks for all of the advice and the beautiful pics. I'm doing everything you're all advising. I have been overplanting and thought maybe the pots were too crowded, but if they're not crammed in, they're sad looking. Maybe I don't have a very artistic eye. Hopefully, I'll do better this year.

One more question - If one of your plants die, do you replace it or just take it out? Thanks again.