How To Use A Large Vase In The Garden

how to plant flowers in a pot in 3 steps pinterest collage

planting flowers in a pot in 3 steps pinterest collage

front porch planter idea brown pot with purple flowers and green leafy foliage

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Learn how to plant flowers in a pot in just three simple steps for a perfectly proportioned garden vase that will be a beautiful focal point for your front porch, deck, or patio. Makes planting flowers for beginners EASY!

how to plant flowers in a pot using 3 simple steps purple flowers with green foliage in a brown planter

One area I never got around to last summer was sprucing up our front porch. So I was excited when Walmart sent me this great large garden vase as an inspirational starting point.

We've had somewhat cooler weather the past few days, so I seized the opportunity to plant some flowers before the summer heat really hits.

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planting flowers in a large flower pot garden vase

Flower Planter Ideas

At nearly 21 inches high, this flower planter vase definitely packs some eye-catching drama. And it comes with an impressively low price, far below the prices I saw at our local greenhouse. Plus, this faux ceramic planter has a lightweight resin construction in a durable ceramic finish and is UV resistant, meaning it should last for many years.

Only problem? I had NO IDEA what kinds of flower would work best in it. I'm the kind of gardener who just buys whatever flowers and greenery catch my eye without a thought as to where I'm going to plant them, so I was especially smitten when I flipped the price tag to find three suggested steps for creating a perfectly proportioned planting. Having a plan in mind when I was browsing my local garden center was especially helpful!

flower planter ideas using the thrill fill spill method tall spiky green foliage planted in a brown pot

How To Plant Flowers In A Pot In 3 Steps

Seriously, this 3-step method is sure to make planting flowers for beginners super straightforward and simple. After the fact, I learned that a lot of gardeners refer to this as the "thrill, fill, and spill" method, and I think you'll understand why in just a moment… Let's get started!

1| Choose a dramatic large plant as a focal point. I went with the Dracaena pictured above, because it grows to between 18-24 inches tall. It provides plenty of height in the center of my flower planter already and will continue to grow throughout the summer.

planting flowers for beginners using a simple 3 step method purple flowers planted with green spiky foliage

2| Add a soft, billowing filler plant around the base of the focal plant. So around the Dracaena, I added these beautiful deep purple Petunias. Petunias are easy to grow and provide continuous color throughout the summer, ensuring a beautiful flower planter for several months.

how to use the thrill fill spill method for planting flowers purple flowers planted with green foliage

3| Plant a trailing or tumbling plant that spills over the edges around the outside. For this effect I went with Lysimachia, a leafy, bright chartreuse plant that provides exactly this effect. It will grow even longer throughout the course of the summer.

So do you see the thrill, fill, and spill parallel now? The thrill is the eye-catching, dramatic, tall plant in the center, the fill is a plant that will spread and grow wide, and the spill is a plant that will trail off over the edges of your flower planter. I can think of SO many fabulous flower planter ideas using this easy 3-part combination!

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Materials

large flower planter or garden vase
potting soil
dramatic large plants
soft billowing filler plants
trailing or spilling plants
lava rocks, optional

Instructions

Fill your flower planter up with potting soil. If it's especially tall, like the garden vase pictured, you may want to add some lightweight lava rocks to help fill it out and reduce the amount of potting soil needed.
Choose a dramatic large plant as a focal point, and plant it in the center of your planter.
Add a soft, billowing filler plant around the base of the focal plant.
Plant a trailing or tumbling plant that spills over the edges around the outside.
Water lightly after planting and as needed thereafter.

I absolutely adore my flower planter and how it dresses up my front porch! I'm considering adding a few more brighter flowers to it, only because the gorgeous purple shade gets a little lost in the dark navy color that we used on our front door.

But I just can't decide what color I'd like to add. Suggestions please?

more easy gardening ideas to try:

Indoor Herb Planter — try a different approach with this indoor herb garden planted in a utensil caddy, which can easily be transported outdoors depending on the weather!
Growing Strawberries in Pots — yes, you can grow strawberries in a pot! Planting strawberries in pots is an ideal solution for colder climates that have late frost dates.
Braided Hibiscus Tree Care — learn how to care for a braided Hibiscus tree year round with these, along with advice for colder climates!

I'd love to see how your garden vase turns out… Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!