This is my favorite time of year. I love all the lawn mowing and planting! Everything is green and it isnt too hot yet. This past weekend, I planted flower pots for the front door and thought it would be a good idea to share my planting tips again.
Planting in large planters can add a dramatic focal point to any outdoor space. With the right plants and proper care, large planters come alive and make a statement. If you’re new to gardening in big containers, follow this complete guide to get your large planters ready for planting and keep your plants thriving all season long.
Selecting the Right Large Planter
The first step is choosing the right large planter for your needs:
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Material: Select durable materials like plastic, concrete, resin, stone, or metal that can withstand the elements year-round. Avoid fragile materials like ceramic or terra cotta that can crack over time.
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Size Make sure to pick a planter big enough for the plants you want to grow. Annuals need at least 1 square foot of surface area while large shrubs and small trees need at least 4 square feet.
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Style: Choose a style that fits your outdoor decor from simple, modern forms to intricate Mediterranean-inspired designs. Match your home’s architecture and color scheme.
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Drainage: Ensure your planter has drainage holes so excess water can escape. Larger planters need more generous drainage for the volume of soil.
Once you select the perfect large planter for your space, you’re ready to get it ready for planting.
Preparing the Planter
Proper preparation is key to ensure your plants thrive in a large planter
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Create drainage: If your planter doesn’t have drainage holes, drill several holes evenly across the bottom. For proper drainage in a big container, holes should be at least 1/2 inch wide.
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Add “filler”: Place packing peanuts, crushed recyclables, or inverted plastic pots in the bottom 1/3 of the planter to reduce the amount of soil needed.
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Protect drainage holes: Cover the drainage holes with landscape fabric to keep soil from washing out while allowing water to flow through.
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Fill with soil: Use a high quality potting mix and fill your planter 2/3 full, packing down firmly. Save space at the top for mulch.
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Mix in fertilizer: Add a granular, slow-release fertilizer to the soil and mix thoroughly. An all-purpose plant food with balanced NPK ratios is ideal.
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Moisten soil: Water your soil until moist but not soaked. Let it drain completely before planting.
Selecting Plants for Large Planters
Choosing the right plants is critical to create a showstopping large planter display:
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Sun requirements: Select plants with matching light needs. Check tags to confirm all your choices thrive in sun or shade.
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Plant dimensions: Mix heights, textures, and flower sizes for variation. Use tall accent plants, trailing vines, and lush filler plants.
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Colors and textures: Combine colors and leaf shapes that complement each other. Repeat colors in at least three places for harmony.
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Growth habits: Choose plants with a similar growth rate and watering needs. Faster-growing annuals match slower woody shrubs.
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Hardiness: If your planter will weather the winters, make sure all plants are rated for your planting zone.
Planting Your Large Container
Once your planter is prepped and plants selected, it’s time to put it all together:
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Add soil amendments: If needed, work compost or water-retaining polymer crystals into the soil for nutrition and moisture.
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Remove plant containers: Gently take plants from pots and loosen tangled roots before arranging in the planter.
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Create interest: Play with plant height, color, and texture as you place them. Group minimum of 3 plants together.
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Pack soil: Firm the soil around plants as you fill in gaps. Check that root balls are fully embedded.
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Water and mulch: Water thoroughly after planting. Spread an even layer of mulch to retain moisture and inhibit weeds.
Caring for Plants in Large Planters
Big containers require some extra TLC to help plants thrive:
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Water: Check soil moisture frequently, watering when the first few inches become dry. Add moisture retaining gels if needed.
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Fertilize: Apply diluted liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during the active growing season.
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Prune: Trim back wayward branches and remove spent blooms to encourage flowering and maintain shape.
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Protect plants: Move planters to sheltered areas if extreme heat, winds, or cold snaps occur.
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Replenish mulch: Maintain a 2-3 inch layer of fresh mulch to lock in moisture and control weeds.
Overwintering Large Planters
In cold climates, certain steps must be taken to overwinter plants left outside in large containers:
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Choose hardy plants: Select plants rated for your winter hardiness zone to survive the dormant season.
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Provide insulation: Pack leaves, pine needles, or straw around containers to protect roots from freezing.
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Move to a sheltered spot: Place planters against walls or structures to shield from winter winds.
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Water minimally: Water only when soil is very dry to prevent freeze and thaw cycles.
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Remove sensitive plants: Transplant any non-hardy plants into pots and store them indoors over winter.
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Clean and replenish soil: Remove old soil and roots in spring and refill with fresh, nutrient-rich soil.
With the right planter, plant choices, and care, your large containers will soon become the focal point of your garden or patio. Follow these tips and enjoy the ease of designing, planting, and maintaining stunning large planter displays this season.
Tips for Planting Pots
You don’t have to fill this really tall planter all the way to the top. Instead, put packing peanuts, pine cones, empty plastic pots turned upside down, or something else light in the bottom half. It makes the pot easy to move and your plants dont need that much dirt anyway. Also, make sure your pot has drainage holes.
I like to give planters a range of heights and textures, so I gathered some grass, vines, and flowers. I try to get a plant with small flowers and one with large flowers.
Make sure you are choosing flowers that all have the same sun/shade requirements. Dont mix a shade loving flower with a sun loving one. If your porch gets little light, pick shade loving varieties. And if your porch is full sun all day, make sure your plants can handle that.
Plants in containers dry out faster than those in the ground. Make sure to water regularly. Set a reminder on your phone. Darker containers will heat up more than lighter ones so they may need to be watered more often. I like to add moisture retaining granules to help them from drying out in the summer heat.
PIN For Later:
Do you have any tips for planting pots that I should add?
How to Plant in Larger Containers Using Less Potting Soil
FAQ
How do you plant an oversized planter?
Should I put anything in the bottom of my planter?
How do you arrange plants in a large planter?
How do I choose a planter for a large planter?
I always start by selecting the right blend of plants for large planters. Using the “thriller, filler, and spiller” method works wonders. The thriller is that eye-catching, tall element that provides height—think ornamental grasses or a tall flower like gladiolas. Next come the fillers, which fill out the body of the arrangement.
How do I choose the right plants to plant in large pots?
When planting in large pots, selecting the correct plants is the most crucial consideration. It can be challenging to pick the ones that complement each other, add interest, and balance the whole planter. For example, a big plant might overpower another small, compact one.
Should you plant flowers in large planters?
As someone who has spent quite a bit of time with my hands in the dirt, I can tell you that planting flowers in large planters is both an art and a science. With the right approach, your patio, deck, or garden can transform into a vibrant tapestry of blooms and foliage.