By Sara Martin
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Spring arrives early in Texas, and most southern gardeners have been digging in the dirt for quite some time now. If your green thumb is twitching, but you’re not sure you want to tackle a large landscaping project, consider planting your blooms in a container.

Container gardening is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. More than 26 million Americans have discovered the joy of growing flowers in containers, reports the National Gardening Association. Whether your goal is to cheer up your patio or splash some color into your existing landscape, flower-filled containers are the perfect solution.

Recently, Eagle’s Trace sponsored a seminar on container gardening with guest speaker Elizabeth Wilson. Wilson has been in the flower business for more than 38 years and is a Texas Certified Nursery Professional. She is particularly fond of the versatility offered by container gardens. “You can plant just about anything in a container, and it will look good from every direction,” she says.

Wilson recommends choosing a container and color scheme before selecting your plants. “It helps to have a starting point because there are endless possibilities when it comes to combining plants in a container,” she says.

Also keep in mind the projected location of the containers. Impatiens and ferns thrive in the shade; Wave petunias and potato vines can withstand the sun—an  important consideration given the hot Texas summers.

Choose plants that complement one another
To generate interest, begin plant placement with the tallest in the middle of the container. Wilson recommends using a light and airy plant like a lily or an iris.

Select a cascading plant to trail over the edge of the pot and lend a strong  vertical element to the grouping. Here you might try English ivy or even a sweet potato plant.

Finally, choose greenery or colorful foliage like alyssum to fill the gaps between the center and the edge of the pot.