Truth be told, we’ve got a LOT going on this spring! We’ve got the start of warmer, sunnier days - which means happier plants & planting weather! We couldn’t be more excited as we’ve got lots of great blooming color, hanging baskets, sun-loving plants, shade-loving plants & more. Got a specific look in mind? Ask our staff experts on how to achieve it - we LOVE to help! We’ve even created a few container recipes that are true no-brainers when it comes to creating a “wow” factor - check out our “Contain Yourself: Gardens-2-Go!” display! We’ve got ever-changing recipes for sun-loving plants and recipes for shade-loving plants too!
Sun-Loving Recipe: “The Julie”
Shade-Loving Recipe: “The Taylor”
What’s Thriller, Filler & Spiller mean?
Thriller: Just as the name implies, thrillers are meant to be big, attention-getting star players. They are usually tall, upright plants, with outstanding qualities such as colorful foliage, intriguing shape, or dramatic flowers that last all season long.
Filler: The fillers are billowy, more finely textured plants that surround and weave through the thriller. Fillers add mass to the overall composition and, more importantly, establish a dialogue wiht the thriller. Fillers add a textural contrast or colorful counterpoint. Position these fillers around the thriller and use a mix of plants for this job - some with foliar interest, others with flowers.
Spiller: The main role of a spiller, however, is to sprawl over the side of the container, softening its edges and tumbling toward the ground. Well-chosen spillers continue the dialogue begun by the thriller and filler. To deepen that conversation, look for spillers that echo or contrast with the pot’s other plants by virtue of shape, color or texture.
What else is new? Check out our new newsletter, available in-stores now: Inspirations!
Our March/April 2010 issue is packed full of great advice & tips for everything spring-planting! Stop by your closest store location to pick one up today!
Annual Flats - Our Favorite Picks for Blooming Spring Color….just $9.96 per flat!
Impatiens: One of our most popular bedding plants! Their small size makes them easy to fit into any shady spot in a container, at the front of a border, along a walkway or any place you want to add a splash of season-long color. Pinch the growing tips of young stems as you plant them to encourage them to branch. Once they’re planted, care is simple. Just keep them watered and you don’t even have to deadhead them as they self-clean!
Size: 6-8″ tall
Bloom Time: Spring & Fall
Light: Light Sun to Full Shade
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Begonias: From the glossy foliage, to the clusters of large flowers that weigh down the long stems from summer to fall, the Begonia is wonderful to put in a mixed container or in the landscape as a mass planting. Begonias prefer shade and if you make sure they don’t get that hot afternoon sun you will see the foliage color will be deeper and the flowers brighter!
Size: 12-18″ tall
Bloom Time: Spring to Fall
Light: Light Sun to Shade
Soil: Well-drained
Petunias: Most people have grown petunias at one time or another and there is a great reason! They are easy to care for and have brilliant colors all season long. Mid-summer when Petunias might get a little leggy, just cut them back - making it more compact adn full of flowers. It’s easy, just trim the stems back as much as half when they get too long, then feed them with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer like MiracleGro’s LiquiFeed.
Size: 8-12″ tall / 24-36″ wide
Bloom Time: Spring to Fall
Light: Full Sun
Soil: Well-drained
Marigolds: There is not much that is more cheery than a marigold - even to a butterfly! Perhaps they like the warm colors o fyellow, gold, orange & creamy white. Make sure you keep them well watered during the heat of the summer to keep them from wilting or drooping, this keeps the insects out too. Deadheading is important if you want to keep color and the nectar flowing. Once a week, snap off the spent blooms and you will have color all season long.
Size: 6-30″ tall
Bloom Time: Spring to Summer
Light: Full Sun
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Don’t forget that you’ll NEVER pay tax on items that we grow - just look for the Southern Favorites logo!
What’s Going on RIGHT NOW at SH&G?
Spring Open House of course - shop storewide sales on plants, patio & more today & tomorrow only (Saturday March 27th, 8am - 6pm / Sunday March 28th, 12noon-5pm).
Check out our bustling Calendar of Events on our website for upcoming free seminars & weekend events!
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