Spring is the perfect time to use container gardening to impress prospective buyers touring your home. Potted plants instantly add color and interest with beautiful blooms in just the right places. Here are a few top picks.
Stock sounds ordinary, but these fragrant blooms are showstoppers. Available in many colors with either single or double flowers, stock blooms all spring and summer until temperatures get too hot. In full or partial sun, stock will grow up to 3 feet tall and requires minimal maintenance. Here’s a bonus: Stock makes an excellent cut flower to use in arrangements for showings.
Geraniums are a favorite for many gardeners because they are so reliable. They’re easy to care for and versatile, and they have gorgeous colorful blooms. Regal geraniums perform better in cooler seasons (spring and fall), but other varieties can take the heat. They need full sun, but otherwise are hardy and don’t require much water.
Pansies and viola make great container plants in almost any season. With full sun and well-drained soil, they will produce beautiful flowers all spring and beyond (as long as they don’t overheat). Today, varieties are available in a multitude of colors, including white, yellow, pink, red, blue, and purple. If you’re planning a multi-season container, pansies and viola can provide color and interest until other plants fill in, and then again in the fall when some less hardy plants have died back. To keep them blooming, don’t let them dry out, and deadhead spent blooms.
Ranunculus varieties are gorgeous additions to any spring container. Because they are cold tolerant, they are a great option for early spring (or even late winter if you live in a warmer climate). They produce large, spectacular flowers with layers of fine petals. Depending on the variety, blooms may be yellow, red, peach, sunset orange, pink, or mixed pastels. These plants bloom for up to six weeks in full sun with well-drained soil. For success, make sure they don’t get too warm or wet. They also make beautiful, long-lasting cut flowers.
Tulips are a quintessential springtime flower. Available in every color of the rainbow, these low-maintenance beauties will make your house pop. Place them in the sun and water when soil becomes dry. Depending on the variety, your tulips should bloom two to four weeks. When buying tulips, pick plants with tightly-closed buds to get the most flowering time.
Creeping phlox makes an excellent low-height or trailing plant in containers. It’s hardy and boasts pretty, star-shaped blossoms that come in red, pink, lavender, or white. The best thing about creeping phlox is how easy it is to grow. It thrives in many conditions, but does best in sun to partial shade with moist, well-drained soil. Tip: Keep your phlox blooming all spring and summer by removing dead blossoms or trimming.
Plant your selections in pots with potting soil, or if you’re in a hurry, try this hack: Place plants in their original plastic pots inside a larger decorative container, then mulch over the top. You’ll need to water this arrangement more often, but you won’t even get your hands dirty. Bonus: Switching plants out is a cinch.
