DIY Spring Container Gardens

Colorful spring containers celebrate the start of the gardening season and creating them is fun and easy if you know which plants to choose. Look for these great gems to create a new spring container or refresh an existing pot.

Note: Before adding plants to an existing planted container, you may need to remove last season’s color if the plants have declined. Remove any unwanted plants and some of the compacted soil, then add a few handfuls of fresh potting soil. Watch for aphids or other signs of pests at this time and treat or remove any infected plants. A slow-release, organic fertilizer (Dr. Earth All Purpose or Life) may be added, either at planting time or, for existing containers, as the weather warms and there are signs of new growth on the plants.

Focal Plants

A focal plant can add texture and color, and be the anchor that other plants can complement.

  • Cupressus 'Wilma Goldcrest'

  • Euonymus

  • Boxwood

  • Conifers

  • Camellia

  • Rhododendron

  • Deciduous shrubs with interesting bark, buds, or flowers such as Forsythia, Chaenomeles, Corylopsis, and Blueberries

Early Spring Color

Include early-blooming perennials and small shrubs for structure and texture.

  • Erysimum

  • Helleborus

  • Saxifraga

  • Lithodora

  • Dicentra

  • Pulmonaria

  • Heuchera

  • Candytuft

  • Heather

  • Daphne

  • Vinca

Spring Bulbs

Some pretty and fun choices are blooming potted bulbs, which are the bellwethers of spring and can be found with other flowering annuals in early spring, growing and ready to transplant into containers.

  • Hyacinth

  • Crocus

  • Tulip

  • Daffodil

  • Muscari

Hardy Annual Flowers

These flowering annuals are cold hardy, perfect for chilly spring weather.

  • Sweet Alyssum

  • Primula obconica

  • Snapdragon

  • Primrose

  • Viola

  • Pansy

  • Anemone

  • Ranunculus

  • Stock

Spring Greens

The bright green foliage of certain evergreen plants goes with everything and adds texture and the striking hue of spring to your containers.

  • Selaginella (Spike moss)

  • Evergreen ferns

  • Evergreen grasses such as Carex 'Everillo' and Liriope muscari

Whichever plants you choose, adding bright color and striking foliage to your pots is refreshing, and an exciting way to announce spring!

 
 

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