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Container Gardening Tips + Duluth Trading Co. Giveaway

May 10, 2013 By Amy @ Positively Splendid

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Summer months are upon us, which means it’s time to don warm-weather duds and head outside. Without a doubt, my favorite way to kick off the summer season is by filling outdoor spaces with plenty of seasonal color, and container gardening is the perfect way to do so. Purchasing flowers and planting them with my children is something we all look forward to each year, and today I am going to share a few of my favorite tips for planting containers that really impress. No gardening experience required!

Container Gardening Tips from Positively Splendid

What I love most about container gardening is how easy it is to create stunning displays, even for gardening novices. By combining different colors and textures, there are thousands of different lovely combinations you can create, even with limited space and a tight budget. When selecting flowers for your containers, there are three plant categories you should try to incorporate into each container.

Category 1: Fillers

These are plants or flowers that will fill each container with plenty of yummy color. These tend to be mounding in nature, and as they grow, they will become the backbone or base of your container’s overall look.

Some of my favorite fillers: Begonias (part sun), Impatiens (part sun), Petunias (full sun), Pentas (full sun)

Category 2: Spillers

These are plants or flowers that will trail or spill over the side of the container as it grows, adding dimension and texture to the display.

Some of my favorite spillers: Sweet Potato Vine (full sun), Calibrachoa (full sun), Verbena (full sun), Dichondra (part sun)

Category 3: Thrillers

These are plants or flowers that demand to be noticed! Aim for one plant like this one in each container to be the showy attention-grabber of the display.

Some of my favorite thrillers: Spike Dracaena (part to full sun), Geranium (full sun)

With the categories listed above in mind, I put together a number of different containers for our front porch. This year, I decided to tackle my summer containers on a day when I had two school events to attend, contractors replacing the gutters on our home, and a baseball game to prepare snacks for. (I know: I am a glutton for punishment.) On days like these, I would usually put style on the backburner and resort to wearing my typical ratty outdoor work clothes–an old sorority t-shirt and a ratty pair of shorts–but this year, I added a new outdoor ensemble from Duluth Trading Company to my closet specifically for days like these. It was so nice have comfortable, functional outdoor work clothes that could bridge the work-to-play gap so beautifully. My new skort, tank and wide-brimmed hat (a life-saver on hot summer days!) will undoubtedly be in heavy wardrobe rotation all summer long as I work and play to my heart’s content!

Container Gardening Tips from Positively Splendid

In my first container, which receives a healthy amount of sun, I planted bright red petunias (filler), cheerful yellow calibrachoa and vibrant green sweet potato vine (spillers), and spike dracaena (thriller).

Container Gardening Tips from Positively Splendid

 

Container Gardening Tips from Positively Splendid

My second container, which lives under the porch, features plants more tolerant to shade: red begonias (filler), soft green dichondra (spiller), and spike dracaena (thriller).

Container Gardening Tips from Positively Splendid

You’ll notice that although each of my containers incorporates different types of flowers, there is a red/yellow theme throughout. When planting multiple containers to be displayed in the same space, stick with a consistent color scheme throughout for maximum impact.

I hope today’s tips have inspired you to see how easy it is to create stunning containers for your home’s outdoor spaces. Planting containers really is a perfect way to get little ones involved in gardening!

Container Gardening Tips from Positively Splendid

 

Want to win a $50 gift card to purchase your own stylish gardening duds from Duluth Trading Company? Simply leave a comment here telling me your favorite outdoor summer activity.

Be sure to provide your email address so that I can notify you if you are the lucky winner! (Easy peasy!)

Giveaway open only to US residents 18 years of age and older. Giveaway will close at 11:59 PM on Sunday, May 12. Winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. He or she will have 24 hours to respond before an alternate winner is selected. 

 

Duluth Trading Company is offering free shipping now through June 30, 2013, for my readers. Just enter code “T13PRCG” (Note: $50 minimum order. Minimum order applies to total before tax, shipping or gift card purchases. Valid for US shipping only, on standard delivery.)

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Amy @ Positively Splendid
Amy @ Positively Splendid

Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you’ll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.

EVEN MORE GREAT IDEAS JUST FOR YOU!

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Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: Gardening, Spring, Summer, Tips

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Robin says

    May 10, 2013 at 5:53 am

    My favorite outdoor activity……cleaning dirt out from under my fingernails!. Just kidding. But that is what happens after I spend time putzing around in my garden. I can’t get enough of coaxing my vegetables and flowers to grow and produce!!

  2. Kristi Dushek says

    May 10, 2013 at 7:28 am

    I love taking my daughter for a run on a warm breezy morning.

  3. Megan Riesenberg says

    May 10, 2013 at 7:47 am

    My favorite outdoor summer activity is grilling out on the back patio and sitting around relaxing with a cold beverage!

  4. [email protected] Sew Can Do says

    May 10, 2013 at 8:01 am

    Gardening (and admiring it once it’s done)!

  5. Stacey C. says

    May 10, 2013 at 9:09 am

    We love gardening–its our favorite summer activity! We’ve already eaten a few strawberries from our garden. Thanks for the giveaway!

  6. Jules says

    May 10, 2013 at 9:41 am

    Our favorite activity is camping. Always looking for bright, colorful ways to brighten up our space!! Thanks for the plant ideas!!

  7. Paula says

    May 10, 2013 at 9:57 am

    My favorite activity is working as a nurse at summer camp. It is great to see kids being kids without all the technology. Thanks for the chance!

  8. Carol T says

    May 10, 2013 at 10:02 am

    Gardening is tops on the list for me, along with observation, I love walking around my neighborhood with my Granddaughters we call it exploring, we find lovely flowers, wildlife and rocks (my CiCi calls all the rocks her fossils she has quite a collection and plans to be a geologist). We also use this time to keep the public areas clean, we take bags along to collect any trash and or recycling found along the way, it’s a great way to teach the little ones about responsibility, community and the environment and just enjoy the outdoors. I think I will do purple, orange and bright green plants in my containers this year, still working on some unique containers to put them in re- or up-cycled containers. Love your outfit, would be great for exploring!!

  9. diane t says

    May 10, 2013 at 10:05 am

    I just love to be outside in the summer weather. It can be gardening, sitting by the pool or watching grandkids sports!!

  10. Kari Jensen says

    May 10, 2013 at 10:14 am

    We’re in prep the deck mode right now. Just finished power washing it and furniture. Gonna’ start my favorite….planting the containers!

  11. Catherine says

    May 10, 2013 at 10:14 am

    I am a wave bobber – – by far my favorite thing to do in the summer!

  12. Ruth says

    May 10, 2013 at 10:24 am

    I love to eat outside and BBQ. Coffee in the morning out on the deck is also wonderful! Listening to the birds and taking it all in!!

  13. Theresa says

    May 10, 2013 at 10:29 am

    I love having a vegetable garden. I can & freeze what I reap. It’s the best gift you can give your family & friends & you know what is in it.

  14. Joyce says

    May 10, 2013 at 10:43 am

    Gardening–just being outside in the sun makes summer the best!!

  15. jessicac says

    May 10, 2013 at 10:58 am

    My favorite summer thing to do is grill at the park. We play music, sneak in some spiked lemonade, and play chess!

  16. Pam says

    May 10, 2013 at 11:13 am

    Favorite summertime activity going to my grandsons base ball games and going to the beach! Love your pots they are beautiful…

  17. manda says

    May 10, 2013 at 11:42 am

    Hiking!

  18. Kara says

    May 10, 2013 at 11:59 am

    I love cooking/grilling and eating outside! Especially on a nice evening, not too hot, nice breeze, and no bugs!
    Kara

  19. KaySue says

    May 10, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    Gardening.

  20. Penny says

    May 10, 2013 at 12:21 pm

    There are so many favorite summer activities but camping & fishing with the kids would have to be #1.

  21. Anne Marie says

    May 10, 2013 at 1:01 pm

    We love relaxing in the backyard – grilling – and visiting!

  22. Ellen M. says

    May 10, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    Love Duluth! I like to putter in my deck garden when I get home from work (everything in pots – less to weed!). Thanks for the planting information, and the giveaway!

  23. Meagan says

    May 10, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    I love playing outside with the kids and doggies. They have so much fun! We bought our house last year and we’re hoping to put in a fire pit for the summer!

  24. Gilda says

    May 10, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    Favorite summer activity: kids and grandkids cooking and eating outside, playing in and out of the pool, just spending relaxing and happy time together. Thanks for the giveaway.

  25. barbara n says

    May 10, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    My favorite outdoor summer activity is picnicing at the park

  26. Amanda S. says

    May 10, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    Hiking!

  27. Grandma B says

    May 10, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    I love everything about summer except when in gets above 90! We live in Iowa but we still grill outside 3-4 days a week even in blizzards. We have a large garden and we put up everything we can. We raise our own meat and have several of every kind of fruit trees that will grow in Iowa. I have some lovely flowers too. We also raise horses and have a few pigs, a cow, geese, ducks and chickens. Poor Lilly the goat died of old age last fall. We bale lots of hay too so as you can see summer is busy. Love seeing all the new babies born and when a thunderstorm rolls through and I can sit on my covered patio and watch it. MY MOST FAVORITE thing off all is morrel mushrooms although that is more of a spring time thing. Happy summer everyone!

  28. Mrs. Schmid says

    May 10, 2013 at 2:34 pm

    Our favorite summer activity is going to the zoo! Followed, by swimming and picnics at the park!

  29. Andrea D. says

    May 10, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    My favorite activity is using the sprinkler with my kids.

  30. Leslie says

    May 10, 2013 at 3:10 pm

    My favorite summer outdoor activity is floating in the pool. Dr. Love and I promised our “tweens” that we’d get a pool when we moved them away from friends & activities at the beginning of their middle school years. Now that they’re grown, we find ourselves enjoying the pool!

  31. [email protected] says

    May 10, 2013 at 3:16 pm

    I adore gardening and would say it’s my favorite summer activity.

  32. Dana says

    May 10, 2013 at 3:27 pm

    My favorite summer activity is to travel to visit family. Since we live in Florida, we start our “summer” gardening at the of January. We are coming to the end of our growing season (even some of our farmer’s markets close at the end of May – Just as yours are likely opening!)

  33. Amy Reed says

    May 10, 2013 at 5:55 pm

    My favorite outdoor activity is spending time at the lake with my family – barbeques, swimming for the kids and our dog makes for a great day and tired little ones at the end of the day! 🙂

  34. Sara e says

    May 10, 2013 at 7:19 pm

    Digging in my garden….can’t wait to eat the veggies

  35. Melissa Frances says

    May 10, 2013 at 7:48 pm

    My favorite thing to so in the sun is drink ice tea and be with a good friend! , but really i love to garden!!

    thanks for an opportunity to WIN!

    Have a happy weekend!

  36. DanaE says

    May 10, 2013 at 8:30 pm

    Making s’mores around a campfire with the ones you love!

  37. Kim says

    May 10, 2013 at 8:57 pm

    My favorite summer activity is sitting on the porch with a nice breeze, reading a great book!

  38. Julie Kraft says

    May 10, 2013 at 9:08 pm

    One of my favorite summer activities is taking the dogs for long walks!

  39. Niki says

    May 10, 2013 at 9:22 pm

    Hiking!

  40. katherine says

    May 10, 2013 at 10:13 pm

    i love gardening!

  41. Danielle says

    May 11, 2013 at 12:36 am

    I love fishing in the summer! I am also planning on helping my in-laws with their new garden this summer. Should be a good one!

  42. Pat says

    May 11, 2013 at 7:43 am

    I like going to the beach!

  43. Maria D says

    May 11, 2013 at 8:31 am

    I love being outside! Especially playing and lounging at a beach with the grandkids, but gardening is right up there, too!

  44. Michele says

    May 11, 2013 at 9:04 am

    Gardening is definitely my favorite outdoor activity.

  45. Patty H says

    May 11, 2013 at 10:22 am

    Setting in the shade, dreaming that I have a backyard!

  46. Linda Nelson says

    May 11, 2013 at 11:09 am

    Favorite outdoor activity: Hard to choose between biking and gardening!

  47. Lori says

    May 11, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    Love to go camping & water skiing!

  48. Lindsay says

    May 11, 2013 at 2:39 pm

    I love playing at the park with our daughters and take walks as a family + our dogs too!!

  49. Sandra says

    May 11, 2013 at 7:59 pm

    Love my outdoor flowers

  50. Shannon a says

    May 11, 2013 at 9:10 pm

    I need to do this. We move alot do no garden but a container garden would be great. I live watching the kids play in their baby pool.

  51. Nancy K says

    May 11, 2013 at 11:41 pm

    Gardening!

  52. Sarah C. says

    May 11, 2013 at 11:56 pm

    Watching my kids play baseball (and then gardening…)

  53. Dana a says

    May 12, 2013 at 2:48 am

    Gardening, having picnics and swimming! I love summer!

  54. Meredith says

    May 12, 2013 at 8:29 am

    We like bike riding down the trails together when its nice outside

  55. jessica w says

    May 12, 2013 at 1:26 pm

    I LOVE swimming and the beach!

  56. vickie says

    May 12, 2013 at 2:31 pm

    I love to garden in the summer– we are just barely getting started here with a freeze warning for tonight but better warmer days are ahead. There is hope!

  57. Katherine says

    May 12, 2013 at 6:54 pm

    I love taking walks with my boys!

  58. Catherine says

    May 13, 2013 at 11:10 am

    I love playing horseshoes in the backyard!

  59. Lindsey D. says

    May 13, 2013 at 4:58 pm

    I love to take the kids out hiking and surfing

  60. Ashleigh H says

    May 13, 2013 at 10:29 pm

    My favorite outdoor pastime is boating with my family!

  61. Alicia B says

    May 14, 2013 at 12:47 pm

    My favorite would be getting together with some friends and camping with maybe some hiking involved. I also love gardening too!

  62. Alicia B says

    May 14, 2013 at 12:48 pm

    My favorite would be getting together with some friends and camping with maybe some hiking involved. I also love gardening too!
    [email protected]

  63. Nancy B says

    May 14, 2013 at 11:18 pm

    My favorite summer activity is spending our days at the beach

  64. Karla says

    May 18, 2013 at 12:57 am

    My favorite summer activity is working in my garden.

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