How Malara Gardens Can Help You Make a Great Container Garden

The first question we always ask is "how much sun/shade will this container get each day?"  The answer to this will determine which type of plants we suggest.  Most plants will do best with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, however there is a growing selection of shade choices these days.  Our staff will be happy to help you find the best sun or shade flowers for your container.  That's the best part of our job!

Second, we will need to know the size of the container.  A 10" pot or larger would allow for a great display of color all summer long.  Terra cotta or plastic, bowls, window boxes or baskets will all work.  

After filling your container with Black Gold All Purpose Potting Soil, you are ready to add your plants.  We follow the "Thriller, Spiller, Filler" plan.  Chose a tall, striking plant for the centerpiece as the "Thriller."  Then choose plants that grow down, trailing over the edge of the pot as the "Spillers."  And lastly, choose some upright growing plants to fill in the rest of the space as your "Fillers."  

Watering will be important!!! if this is a tough area for you, we have ways to help.  We might suggest more drought resistant kinds of plants for you or the use of water polymers such as Soil Moist.  

Fertilizing will be just as important.  Because containers get watered so frequently (on the hot days you should be watering daily), nutrients drain away with the excess water.  The more you feed your plants the happier they will be.  Weekly feeding with Jack's Classic Fertilizer will ensure greener foliage, more blooms and plants that will last til the first frost.

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