My 15 favourite Annuals for Garden Planters
I’m like a kid in a candy store when the first garden centers open up! There’s nothing like walking along the rows of new green selections topped with a rainbow of colours! It’s a better therapy session than sitting in the therapist’s office any day! It puts a spring in our steps, smiles on our faces, and fresh hope in our hearts! New growth has a way of doing that.
I have some favourite local garden centers I like to shop at. I love when I can chat with the owner and ask her opinion on what to grow, what looks good together and new plants for the season. This personal touch goes a long way and keeps customers coming back year after year!
Styles and tastes evolve, and it’s the same in the plant world. A plant you previously had to have to create your containers may not be your favourite anymore. And sometimes, it’s just good to try a new container recipe.
I begin my collection process well before I begin planting the pots. The search is part of the fun for me! If you do this, you have to be careful to give your tender plants the continued good care they need — enough sunshine, water, and controlled temperatures! Don’t let them get too cold, especially at night times when the temps still drop below 0 degrees!
This is how I move my collection out into the sun and back into the shelter of the car garage when the temperatures dip down at night.
Typically annuals are used for planting up containers. An annual is just that; it will grow for the season and die. If you want to use a perennial, you could remove it from the pot after the growing season and plant it in the ground to save it for the following year.
(Disclaimer– I live in zone 3, so I’m using that as a guide for cold temperature zones)
The possibilities are endless but so are the choices. One can become slightly overwhelmed unless you know what plants you are looking for. I have developed many favourites over the years, and I created a free guide to help you make your plant decisions a little easier this spring! In it, I break down the 15 different favourites into thrillers, fillers, and spillers.
Thrillers – being the vertical point, or the tallest plant in the container
Fillers- create fullness and complement the thriller in shape and or colour.
Spillers – create softness and a flowy element to the container
Spring has been slow in making a lasting appearance here in Alberta, so I know we’re all anxious to pull on our gloves and get digging in the dirt! Let’s clean up the remains of winter and plant some cheer!
But first, happy hunting! ????
