This Thriller, Filler & Spiller Guide helps you get the results you want
May 2, 2022
By Chris Kennedy
Container gardening keeps things manageable for busy people, people with limited space or budget, and those of us who want to experiment with new plants or color combinations. Feel free to experiment with different colors, textures, sizes and shapes. Symmetry isn’t all-important, but here’s an easy 3-step guide to get you going:
1) start with your thriller
This is the focal point—place this bold, upright scene-stealer in the center or toward the back to provide strong, distinctive architectural structure. It’s often helpful to add the biggest plant first so you don’t have to squeeze it in later.
A spring/summer thriller we love: Prince Tut
2) add your filler
Designed to cover the base of the Thriller and to mound or billow in the container, filling in bare spots.
Spring /summer fillers we love: catalina ‘grape-o-licious’ and summer wave large blue
3) finish with the spiller
Extend the boundaries of your container with plants that cascade over the edges, adding softness and shape to the overall look.
A spiller we love: potato vine
Don’t Forget The Most Important Thing
Give your potted plants a fresh start with good potting soil like Coast of Maine Premium Potting Soil and keep yours thriving and blooming with bi-weekly fertilizer like Neptune’s Harvest Fertilizer.
DIY Planting, Grab & Go Porch Pots or Custom Containers
Let us know if you have any questions on what to plant (hint: pretty plants are definitely important, but it’s even more important to plant for the amount of sun/shade).
Sound like a little too much work, time or mess? Choose a gorgeous Grab & Go, a pot our designers plant up with seasonal favorites that’s ready to be dropped right into your containers. We’re also happy to create something special for you. We’ll even come to you when you have extra large pottery and/or a large number of pots, bringing everything we need to make your containers beautiful in any season.
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