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5 Planting Ideas for Pots

May 17, 2014 by Laura Blodgett Leave a Comment

With the heat of summer here in Idaho, I have learned to be careful about how I use pots for planting. Many ideas just don’t work here because the plants in the sun tend to get scorched, but the ones in the shade get easily water logged. I discuss this in more detail in a blog I wrote for D&B Supply about how to evaluate container planting.

 You might think that between these problems and having a generous acre to plant on that I would have no need to use pots. However, I have come up with some ways to use pots that help me solve problems. I offer you 5 particular options:

1.  Use pots to plant under a tree where you can’t or don’t want to disturb the soil.

Here a pot has been placed under my contorted mulberry tree. The pot contains 2 summer annual vines (heavenly blue morning glory and thunbergia). There are also a few shade bedding plants around the vines. I have grown a morning glory up the tree before, but it was too small, so I waited a few years before I tried again.
Here a pot has been placed under my contorted mulberry tree. The pot contains 2 summer annual vines (heavenly blue morning glory and thunbergia). There are also a few shade bedding plants around the vines. I have grown a morning glory up the tree before, but it was too small, so I waited a few years before I tried again.

 

 

 

Follow this link to find photos of heavenly blue morning glory growing on a fence in my yard.

 

Thunbergia are easy to grow from seed, as I write about in this article.

 

 

 

The seedlings under the mulberry are still small, but I've learned the hard way to leave space!
The seedlings under the mulberry are still small, but I’ve learned the hard way to leave space!

 

 

I may get around to adding another couple of pots, but for now, one has been completed.

 

 

 

 

 

2.  Let a pot help protect your plants from insects than might eat it when small.

Some seedlings seem to be tastier than others, so if I am planting those yummy ones in places where I think they are be more vulnerable, I often use a pot to keep them up out of "bug" traffic.
Some seedlings seem to be tastier than others, so if I am planting those yummy ones in places where I think they are be more vulnerable, I often use a pot to keep them up out of “bug” traffic.

 

 

 

The plastic pot here on the south side of the barn will help retain more moisture.

 

 

 

 

3.  Meld pots into a flower bed to visual interest.

I just "felt the need" for pots in this flower bed in the front yard near the driveway. Who can explain these things. Three pots in a row adding their own visual effect.
I just “felt the need” for pots in this flower bed in the front yard near the driveway. Who can explain these things. Three pots in a row adding their own visual effect.

 

 

These pots are terra cotta, since they get more shade during the day in this location, thus don’t dry out as much. The terra cotta allows for some measure of drainage. This year I have planted some of the cape daisies that I grew from seed that I saved last fall. I’m hoping for quite a display.

 

 

4.  Pair a vine in a pot with trellis to dress up a barren area.

And here we are back behind the barn again, where I have multiple problems. The soil was not easy to work with, and the area was stark. A trellis with heavenly blue morning glories should brighten things up. Yes, I really like HBMG's!
And here we are back behind the barn again, where I have multiple problems. The soil was not easy to work with, and the area was stark. A trellis with heavenly blue morning glories should brighten things up. Yes, I really like HBMG’s!

 

 

 

The trellis is just a piece of ranch fence panel tied (with metal fencing wire) to the posts. I installed it myself within 20 minutes, but the fence was already cut to a good size.

 

 

 

 

5.  Position your pots so that they are watered by the sprinklers.

Even some of my pots on the front porch get some sprinkler spray. I do have to be careful about "designing" such set ups, per all the concerns in the D&B blog post, but overall I find it helps me keep up with watering pots if they are at least getting some sprinkler action.
Even some of my pots on the front porch get some sprinkler spray. I do have to be careful about “designing” such set ups, per all the concerns in the D&B blog post, but overall I find it helps me keep up with watering pots if they are at least getting some sprinkler action.

 

 

 

 

 

The plants in this front porch arrangement are mostly impulse purchases, but they are still small. They will fill in!

Filed Under: Gardening in Southwest Idaho, Out in the Garden Tagged With: southwest Idaho gardening

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