Getting Started on Your Own Garden sPOT
This page teaches you the basics of building a beautiful planter:
learn how much sun you REALLY have
pick the right planter
fill it with good potting mix
determine how many plants you’ll need
use the “thriller, filler, spiller” design technique.
To keep your Garden sPOT looking great all season long, there are loads of tips on our Care & Feeding page!
HOW MUCH SUN DO I HAVE?
One key to a successful Garden sPOT is using the right plants for the amount of sun that reaches your planter. Since the sun moves all day, it’s hard to tell how much sun you really have. Here’s an easy trick to see how many hours your planters will receive:
Place a sheet of white paper where your planter will sit. You can also use our handy Sun-Shade Time Sheet.
Check the paper each hour between 9 am and 5 pm. Write down whether there is sun shining on the paper, or sun making patterns through the leaves on the paper (dappled sunlight*), or no sun hitting the paper at all.
Add up the total number of times (hours) you recorded direct or dappled sunlight on the paper.
6 or more times with direct sun = full sun plants 🌕
3, 4 or 5 times with direct sun = part sun plants 🌕-🌓
2 times with direct sun + 4 or more times with dappled sun = part shade plants 🌓-🌑
Anything less = full shade plants 🌑
*You should see the individual leaves with sunlight shining through. If the leaves are too dense, and you see mostly dark areas with just a few gaps of sun shining through, it isn’t really “dappled sun.”
WHAT KIND OF PLANTER DO I NEED?
The MOST IMPORTANT factor in a good planter is drainage. Even expert growers have found planters without drainage holes that they love and tried to water just enough to keep the plants happy without killing them…but it never really works. Trust us, you NEED drainage holes.
After drainage, the pros and cons of each type of planter comes down to design, weight, and moisture retention.
Glazed Ceramic planters may be beautiful but they’re heavy. Their weight can make ceramics a good choice for windy locations or if you worry about pets knocking over your planter. The glaze seals the planter and helps retain water. Some are frost resistant and will survive cold winters without cracking but in cold climates, you may need to provide some protection.
Terra cotta is a classic look, relatively inexpensive, and moderately light weight. Since terra cotta is porous, it wicks moisture out of the potting soil, which will require you to water more often. Terra cotta is best for low-water plants like lavender and succulents. These pots are fairly brittle and chip easily. Tip: don’t leave terra cotta platers outside if your area has wet winters with freezing temperatures. There is a good chance your pot will suffer major cracks by spring.
Plastic planters are the lightest weight, which is a plus if you need to move your planter often. They can look less formal, and less expensive, than ceramic options and can give you a lot of bang for your buck. Plastic planters also help potting mix retain moisture, which lets you water less often. Because plastic isn’t porous, it tends to survive one or two winters but will become brittle over time. Look for planters that say “UV Stabilized,” which means the plastic will have a longer lifespan.
Finally, there are a number of composite options that have the advantages of all of the above. They offer great design options, they are lighter weight and less expensive than ceramic, and many are winter hardy. No matter which planter you choose, make sure it has drainage holes or add your own.
WHAT IS POTTING MIX?
Yard soil doesn’t work well in a container because it becomes compacted over time, slowing drainage and reducing air spaces (roots need air too!).
To create a more “pot-friendly” growing medium, professionals and homeowners use a soilless “potting mix” that may include peat moss, ground bark, coir, and perlite or vermiculite. This mix holds some moisture while offering good drainage and air spaces for roots. The large air spaces in the mix help slow temperature changes in the pot, too.
Typically, potting soil or potting mix does not have a lot of nutrients. You will want to add fertilizer when you assemble your planter (we recommend time-release fertilizer). If a bag of potting mix includes fertilizer, the manufacturer will mention it on the label.
HOW MANY PLANTS TO I NEED? Step 1: Measure Your Planter
Round planters: if you have a round planter, measure straight across the widest part of the top to get the diameter (watch our video). Next, consult our chart, below.
Square planters: If your planter is square or rectangular, measure one long side and one short side. Next, consult our chart below.
HOW MANY PLANTS DO I NEED? Step 2: Look at the Chart
We based this chart on the “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” concept (see next section, below) and using annual plants in 4.5” or 6” grower pots. If you use a mix of tall, wide, and hanging plants, you’ll use more plants than if you use all of one type of plant. Obviously, if your plants come in larger grower pots, you won’t need as many.
WHAT IS THRILLER, FILLER, SPILLER?
A common planter design strategy is to use one or two plants for height (the thriller), a couple of plants to fill in around the tall plants (the filler), and something to drape over the side of the container (the spiller).
In the just-planted example seen here, the red-orange lantana will get quite tall by the end of the summer, the compact yellow zinnia will fill in around the lantana, and the white petunia will flow over the sides along with the yellow-green Creeping Jenny. The color combination looks great today but this planter will continue to evolve into an exciting flower presentation as the weeks go by.