If you love filling your outdoor spaces with flowers and greenery, now is the time to start planting containers for your porch, backyard deck, and patio. Here are 12 easy to grow plants perfect for container gardening for beginners.
Container gardening is a simple way to decorate your porch, patio or deck with a burst of color from hearty and easy-to-care-for plants. The key is to choose plants that will work well for your particular conditions, such as access to sun and shade.
It's also fun to choose unique and decorative planters to hold your gorgeous foliage. You want to make sure that there's a drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. Water will need to be able to escape so you don't drown your plants or end up with root rot.
You'll also want to use good potting soil and fertilizer or compost, or potting mix with appropriate nutrients for the plant. Terra cotta pots or clay pots are the most attractive while self-watering containers with a reservoir can keep a constant level of moisture in the soil.
Here are several plants to consider for easy container gardening.
Herbs
Herbs are the first thing I plant every spring. They are perfect for container gardening and add a fragrant touch to your outdoor space. While the hours of sunlight requirements vary, you will need at least partial sun to grow herbs and most can take full sun. Be sure to water them as needed. If they're in full sun, they will likely need daily watering. Keep a watering can or garden hose with a sprayer nearby.
Here are the herbs I plant in ceramic containers every spring. While most herbs are considered perennials, I will add new plants if they don't come back the next year. Basil and cilantro are annuals and I'll usually plant a couple in each pot to get them going in the spring.
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Mint
- Parsley
- Dill
- Cilantro
- Chives
Other edible plants that I've used for container vegetable gardening are lettuce, spinach, tomato, cucumbers, eggplant, and peppers. The tomatoes are planted in larger tubs with cages to keep them upright. We also plant strawberries in hanging baskets every year.
Having a kitchen garden makes it easy to use fresh herbs for cooking your favorite recipes.
Lavender
Lavender is the perfect flower to grow on or around your backyard deck. Not only will it add a gorgeous touch of purple and blue color to your decor, but its delicate fragrance will be a relaxing addition to your outdoor space. Lavender needs full sun and is easy to grow as it doesn't need daily watering. Choose from varieties such as English Lavender, French Lavender and Fringed Lavender.
Pansies
Pansies are a classic flower for springtime. Perfect for container gardening, these flowers lend themselves to combination groupings to produce a myriad of color options. They're easy to grow and can even withstand a spring frost. They do well in part to full sun. Take care to regularly pinch off leggy growth and deadheads to keep the growth consistent and visually appealing.
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Nemesia
With so many color choices from which to choose, Nemesia is a popular choice which will be a colorful addition to any container garden. From pink and cranberry shades like Dazzle-Me Lilac, to yellow and orange shades such as Juicy Fruits Kumquat, you'll need part to full sun for these flowers. These easy to care for flowers will bring a lovely touch of color to your outdoor space.
Snapdragons
These perennials are an easy to grow flower that does well in containers. Varieties include dwarf and tall as well as pastel colors to more saturated and brilliant colors. These flowers do well in full sun as well as partial shade. Take care to deadhead the flowers so you can keep these beautiful blooms growing all season long. You can also cut these flowers to enjoy inside in a pretty vase.
Coral Bells
Arriving on the scene with a variety of shades from which to choose, this plant has small bell-shaped flowers. For a splash of deep red color, try the Dolce Cinnamon Curls or Harvest Burgundy varieties. They'll need part sun, so take that into consideration. These flowers attract butterflies so you'll be adding not only color to your outdoor space, but nature's beautiful flying creatures.
Persian Shield
This stunning foliage plant boasts purple, green and silver leaves making it an exotic addition to your porch. This plant can grow as tall as 3 feet. It tolerates partial sun, so if you have a shadier area, this plant would work well there.
Angelonia
This heat-tolerant plant will bloom all season in shade from white and pink to deep purples and blues. Go monochromatic with one shade or mix a few shades for visual interest. These plants do need sun, so position them accordingly.
No matter which plants you choose, a container garden with flowers and herbs will make your outdoor spaces even more inviting.
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