How to Create a Spring Container Garden
Spring Container Plants & More
Whether you’re considering container gardening because you don’t have a big yard or you just want to keep a few florals and herbs close to you, starting a small garden on your balcony or windowsill is easy! From people living in the big city to those faraway country cousins, container gardening can bring beautiful plants and fresh scents right into your home, no matter where you’re located.
When it comes to springtime plants, you have so many options it can be tough to keep track. But with a little help from Patio Growers, you can create a spring garden full of life and color. Check out our recommendations for your spring container garden and learn more about getting started today!
Floral Container Garden
While there are some fussy spring flowers, we have the details on the easiest flowers to grow this season. We recommend zinnias, pansies, petunias, mums, and marigolds to start with, as they tolerate the cold fairly well, so you can plant them right around the last frost, and they will continue to bloom through the summertime and maybe even into fall! Since these floral options come in so many different colors, you have a ton of flexibility for your spring container garden aesthetic.
Herbal Container Garden
Wondering which herbs will do well through the rains of spring and the heat of summer? Our favorite spring container plants that you can also use in the kitchen depending on your environment. Living in a hot, dry area? Consider planting rosemary, oregano, sage, and lavender. Expecting a lot of spring rain? We suggest basil, parsley, and chives for your spring container garden. If you’re looking for companion herbs that you can grow together in the same container, check out this guide for more info.
Vegetable Container Garden
Surprisingly, many veggies and leafy greens grow well in containers and can make a wonderful addition to your spring container garden. Spinach, asparagus, and carrots are all great choices. And, of course, tomatoes are among the hardiest, fastest-growing vegetables that are perfect for spring planting.
What You Need for Your Garden
While you can buy seeds to plant after the last frost or you can purchase fully grown plants to repot into your own containers, you still need a few essential tools and accessories to ensure your spring container garden thrives.
- Decorative containers and pots with drainage holes
- Soil or potting mix
- Preferred florals, veggies, and herbs
- Trowel and watering can
- Automated watering system (optional)
Planting Your Garden
With your tools assembled, follow our guide for repotting your spring container plants.
- Fill your containers to about ⅔ with soil or potting mix. Buy the bagged mix or soil best suited for your plants to ensure they have the right acidity levels and nutrients, as well as sterility to prevent pests and diseases.
- Choose your preferred combination of spring container plants and design a potting arrangement. We recommend placing the largest ones at the back of the pot and the shortest ones towards the front.
- Once you’re happy with the arrangement, remove the plants from their original pots by overturning them into your hand and tapping the pot gently if they get stuck. There may be some loose dirt falling, so work in a space that’s easy to clean.
- Remove all the loose dirt from around the plant roots and place each plant in its place on the new soil. Use a trowel to scoop more soil onto the roots until your pot is full, and tamp it down lightly.
- When you’re done repotting all the plants, water them thoroughly. You should water every time you notice the top layer of soil is dry. If you’re caring for flowers, make sure to cut off old blooms to make room for new ones.
Done! Your spring container garden should now last for several months, depending on the weather in your region. Because your garden is in a pot, you should be able to bring it inside if the weather gets too extreme. You don’t want your plants dying because the sun is drying them out!
More Guidance
Because your spring container garden will be completely unique, you may want to visit each growing guide to learn more about the specific needs of the plants you prefer. Some plants do well when potted together, while others need to be solo. You might even find yourself using several smaller pots instead of one big one to space your garden out all over your balcony and porch.
Want to discover plants that can grow well in other seasons? Check out our fall container growing guide here!