vintage garden
Curious C ontainers By Laurie Kessler
I’ll never forget my first garden tour. The gardens were gorgeous, the containers were an afterthought! Plain terracotta pots, even plastic containers. I was amazed. The right contain- er with the right plant can add just the right touch to complete a garden space. Whether that space is on your front porch, screened porch or layered into your garden plantings ... don’t forget a beautiful container! Keep these things in mind: 1. Select a container appropri- ate in scale for your location. 2. Select plants for your con- tainer that fit the site needs. Will your container be in full sun, partial sun or full shade? 3. Follow this design principle for selecting plants for your container: Use 1 thriller, 1 or 2 spillers, and 1 or 2 fillers. This gives you the perfect scale combination. 4. For smaller containers, use 1 “specimen” plant. Consider the location and find a plant you will enjoy viewing. 5. Always ensure your con- tainer has drainage holes. If you are using a vintage kettle, drill enough holes in the bot- tom to ensure water can flow through. 6. I use coffee filters to cover the drainage holes to ensure the potting medium does not come out through the holes. 7. Use a good potting soil that contains a slow release plant food. 8. Allow some space for your plants to grow. Don’t “overfill.” 9. Make sure you water your container before it dries out. Water needs increase with the summer heat!
Rust as art
Large aluminum kettles, galvanized chicken feeders, bushel baskets—wood or galvanized, concrete urns, metal creamers, and stand washtubs. V intage items that make great container gardens:
Special thanks to Becky Budke, Kathi Hardin and Sharon McCarter for letting us crash their gardens in the dry heat of last year’s summer. If you have a beautiful garden or outdoor space with unique vintage ideas, tell us about it at erin@vintagekcmag.com.
Laurie Kessler owns The Potting Shed, offering container planting/ design services. Contact her at pottingshedkansas@gmail.com.
VintageKC / Spring 2013 27
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