Charleston Container Gardening in Spring: The Power of Planting in Pots

Spring starts early in the south, with the first official day not until March 20th, which is still many weeks away. But Charleston already feels like spring and we're welcoming the warm weather with open arms! The early spring flowers are blooming around town, the days are getting longer, and the shop is bustling with gardeners itching to get planting! There's a special power of planting in pots in Charleston. From overflowing window baskets to elaborate porch pots, container gardening in spring breathes life into the city.

Planting in Pots

Space can be limited in your Charleston garden, so adding pots to your yard increases your planting potential! If you're dealing with a small strip of land or heavy hardscaping, pots are the answer. On the other hand, large landscapes can be equally as daunting. Sometimes too much space is just as much of an issue! Scatter pots along pathways, group them in corners, or place pots around beds for added texture and color without the stress of in ground planting.

Pots provide a big impact and the instant gratification of a garden project well done. Plus, you can reimagine your pots each season! Move them around your space or swap out the plants quarterly for a new look with little effort.

Get Planting

If you have pots you need to fill this season or you're ready to invest in planters for your garden, stop by Meeting Green this spring. We're here to inspire and guide you and help your container gardening dreams come true! Let's break down the basics so you can get planting this season!

First, decide where your pots are going and determine how much light that area receives. Everything relies on sunlight! In Charleston, full sun means 6+ hours, part sun typically means 3-6 hours, with shade being less than 3 hours of sun. This is a good rule to follow in the spring, but when summer heat takes over... all bets are off!

Next, we recommend picking a plant or color that you need in your pots. This can be a plant you love or even the color of a door you're trying to coordinate. It's nice to have a starting point for your design, so you don't become overwhelmed with endless options.

Now, you'll select your plants based on the phrase 'thriller, filler, spiller.' Choose a tall statement plant as your thriller. This plant will act as the focal point for your design. Depending on the pot size, this can be a few taller flowers like delphinium or a large elephant ear. Some pots may even need multiple thrillers for maximum impact! For filler plants, choose a mix of flowers and foliage with a clumping habit to literally fill in the space between your tall thriller(s) and the pot. Alternate flowers and foliage throughout the design so everything is visible. Finally, grab a few spillers or trailing plants that will grow down the sides of your pot. The number of plants you need depends on the pot and for a professional look, you want to fit as many plants in different varieties as possible in your container garden.

If you have more questions, stop by Meeting Green and chat with a retail associate about your project. Or, if container garden is more of a chore than a hobby, we can create a beautiful pot for you! Our Cultivated Container subscription service does all the hard work for you so you can enjoy seasonal containers without getting your hands dirty.

Learn more about Cultivated Containers