Even though it was colder than a witch's you know what here this weekend, I did manage to get one of my summer planter containers planted.
I usually have a set plan on what I want in my containers, but this year it's all about flying by the seat of my yoga pants.
Creating A Festive Summer Planter
This combination actually came to me while at the garden center.
There I was surrounded by a zillion and one brightly colored annuals. All just beckoning me with their bright, cheerful colors.
Pick me, Pam!
Look over here, I'm all pink and girly looking!
Aren't I pretty enough for you?
But I was determined not to make any impulse plant purchases this year (IPPs for short), so I hunted and pecked my way through the garden center. Picking things up and putting them in my cart only to remove them later.
Tip To Fill A Planter Quickly
Now, I did have thoughts of just grabbing two hanging baskets on sale and plopping them into the planter and calling it a day, though.
You do know you can do that, right?
Why, yes, you can!
A trick to fill up your summer planter quickly and easily and cheaply is to buy a hanging basket this time of year (they're ALWAYS on sale around Memorial Day around here for well under $10) and plant them in your planters. Done.
How To DIY Your Planter From Scratch
But I really do enjoy making my own creations, so slow, steady, and thoughtful was the plan.
Then I practically tripped over the Canna (tropical rose variety).
I have never in the world ever planted one before, but I wanted something tall in the middle of the planter, so it fit the bill. And according to the tag, it will have very pretty pink tropical-looking flowers. So I decided to give it a try, and that was my starting point.
Next, I decided to add a Coral Bells (Harvest Burgundy) at each end. I liked their foliage and thought it would look good with the Canna's future pink flowers.
And I picked two Supertunias (Pretty Much Picasso) to accompany them in the middle. The chartreuse and lavender colors are a fun, non-traditional look.
They are trailing annuals and should grow fairly quickly to fill the bottom of the container with color.
Not as quick, easy, or cheap as the hanging basket route, but I think it gives the planter a richer, more interesting look.
Plants For Sun-Loving Containers
Canna Lily - Tropical Rose - full sun - grows to be 18-30" tall
Usually bought as a summer bulb (you can purchase them in those bags at the big box stores), I bought mine potted up and already emerged for the summer. The bulbs are winter hardy only in zones 7-10; otherwise, you will need to lift them from the ground (or from the outdoor pots in my case) and store them before the first fall frost. You can then plant them in the ground again in the late spring, about the same time you'd be planting your tomatoes.
You can deadhead the spent flowers to promote more blooms.
Supertunia - Pretty Much Picasso - full sun - trailing habit and 8-12" tall
The joy of supertunias is that they do not have to be deadheaded. No need to pop off the dead blooms to promote new growth, these truly are a low-maintenance petunia!!! These plants need 6 hours or more of sun a day to be at their best. And you can give them a little haircut mid-summer if they are getting too leggy to promote more blooms on top.
Coral Bells - Harvest Burgundy (Heuchera) - part sun (4-6 hrs per day) - 12" tall
The best part of coral bells is their foliage. This variety has silver-tinged foliage with dark green veining and a burgundy underside. The plants do have delicate-looking flowers that grow on tall stalks, but they're really hard to see from far away. The foliage is the star of the show here.
An added benefit of using coral bells is that they are perennials, so I can plant them in the ground in the fall if I want, and they will come back up next year!
Now, I know someone is going to say, "But Pam, you have two sun lovers in with the Coral Bells, which is only part-sun. Are you nuts?"
To which I reply. Yes, I probably am.
But regarding the Coral Bells, as long as you don't have the planter in full hot sun all the time, you should be fine.
UPDATE: Wow, this summer planter turned out to be a stunner if I may say so myself 🙂 Come check it out ONE MONTH LATER.
At Rivercrest Cottage
your plants and containers really improved the look of your outside. So much work, but so worth it.
Joanne Noragon
I made my own hanging baskets this year. Some good, some not so. The replacements will be much better.
Marissa
Beautiful combination!
Xo Marissa
ThrifterSisters
Lots of planting going on around here too, however not by me. Thankfully my husband enjoys the process and doesn't manage to kill the plants by merely looking at them like I do.
Everything looks awesome!
Erica
Kerin
Great job on the planter! I love this time of year when we get to peruse the garden nurseries, pick plants, and spruce up the yard and gardens 🙂
Love to read your posts; as your quirky sense of humor always puts a smile on my face. Thank you !
Have a great day!!
Smiles 🙂
Kerin
Pam Kessler
Arlene, those are gorgeous! I never pay attention to what color the flower spikes are when I buy them, because I normally buy them for the foliage, but I love those bright flower spikes on yours! I think this variety that I just bought is supposed to have white flower spikes.
Musings from Kim K.
I always enjoy your planting adventures. Coral Bells are a favorite at our house too. We found a new nursery over the weekend that actually knew what hens/chicks were! Fingers crossed this Memorial weekend is a dry and warmer one. I want to be outside, but I don't want to freeze my yoga pants off! PS. I finally got pics on the blog of our gardening shed. Half of the interior is decorated.
Pam Kessler
I love the shed!!! Very cute!
Anonymous
I have canna bulbs from that came from my Grandma years and years ago. Sometime they get 6 ft. tall. I'm sure yours is a smaller varitety. They are easy to grow and beautiful as a back drop to a flower garden. Love your planter and what your picked.
Pam Kessler
The tag said 18-30" tall, but all the photos I've seen online look closer to the lower end of that. That's awesome that you have your grandma's bulbs!
TARYTERRE
Love the Canna and Coral Bells. Looks nice together. I unfortunately went the hanging basket route and had big black ants crawling all over my front porch. So no more flowers for me.
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
That's going to be a pretty combination...love that variety of petunia. I have to admit, I do a lot of that "hanging basket in the planter and call it a day" thing...
Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary
Very pretty arrangement. I am like you - I like to make my own arrangements. It looks great and should fill out very nicely.
Have a great Memorial Day Weekend.
Mary
ℳartina @ Northern Nesting
Very pretty!!
Ashley @ 3 Little Greenwoods
Oh the Supertunia - Pretty Much Picasso is so pretty! I love the pop of color it gives your planter!
Hope you are having a great Monday!
~ Ashley
Stacey
That's so pretty! Coral bells are perennial here. Maybe they would be for you too.
Pam Kessler
They're perennials here also. I'll take them out of the pot and plant them in the ground in the fall.
Julia Nyanyo
My nan was a great gardener and she used to just pop things in together and say "they've got two chances". I have no idea what she meant, it was just what she always said but it seemed to work.
Carlene @ Organized Clutter
I think the coral bells will do fine. Nice arrangement!