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Mixed Containers - All the Rage!

By now you've seen those beautifully designed, colorful container gardens with interesting plants in unusual combinations. These are so popular these days and the trend seems to get stronger every year.

Below, we'll check out some of the basics of this concept and offer some suggestions for creating your own container garden.

We've followed this trend for the last several years, and along the way we have met many interesting people and plants. Among the people who we've encountered, Dr. Terri Starman from Texas A&M University is responsible for bringing much information about mixed container design to her students and, thereby, to the nursery industry as a whole. As both instructor and lecturer, Dr. Starman has assisted us by sharing her ideas and research observations through meetings and short courses.

From her base of knowledge, I've taken some of the principles that she teaches and listed them below to give you a basic understanding of how to begin a mixed container. Click on the title of each principle or links within each paragraph to see an example.

Focus - The point or area where the eye is drawn first. Place the focus below the tallest point to achieve balance. Develop focus by using large, coarse, or bright colored plant material in that area. All plant material should radiate out from the focus.

Balance - A feeling of stability. Symmetrical balance is equal, almost identical elements on each side of a central axis, with the highest point over the center. Asymmetrical balance is when the two sides of the central axis are not mirror images but have the same visual weight.

Form - Vary the form of the plant material you choose; use tall linear species to add height; mounded species to add mass; and low growing, cascading species to fill in, add depth, and soften the edges of the container.

Texture - Add coarse, medium, and fine textured plants together. Three to five species will achieve an assortment of forms and textures. Use variation and gradation of form and texture.

Rhythm - Repeat color at regular intervals around the outside of a round container or along the length of a long rectangular container. Repeat color in several containers to "tie" them together. Graceful lines of plant leaves add flow and rhythm.

Proportion - Use larger and/or more plants in larger containers, and less and/or smaller plants in small containers. Rule of thumb is the height of the tallest plant should not exceed 1X-2X the height of the container excluding pedestals and "air-fairy" sprigs. Best to use odd numbers: one, three, five or seven plants of each variety.

I hope that we've peaked your interest in using mixed containers. During the fall and winter months, shipments of seasonal plants might also create some interest for you, so please consider visiting us.

Enjoy your garden and have a great fall.

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