Looking for container garden ideas that won’t wither as soon as the first hint of summer rolls around? We have you covered. Gardening expert Linda Vater shares simple strategies for getting ahead of the heat, from choosing sturdier varieties to giving established plants the care they need to thrive through summer. Here, she relied on options from the Southern Living Plant Collection for these long-lasting combos. With a few thoughtful plant swaps and smart placement, your spring pots will stay looking good and colorful well into summer.
Inviting Duo
Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
For a front porch welcome, we doubled up on complementary compositions. In the taller pot, we paired trellised ‘Angyo Star’ fatshedera for height with feather-like astilbe and silvery dichondra for dimension and color. In the other, we used ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia to root the mix and filled in with white petunias, creeping Jenny, and ‘Pink Fizz’ heucherella.
Summer Refresh:
You can leave these arrangements largely untouched for the warm-weather months as long as you give them some shade. While petunias can take the heat in much of the region, people who are gardening in the Coastal and Tropical South (Zones 9 through 11) or who just want something sturdier should trade them for SunPatiens, which thrive in hot, sunny environments.
Tips
Stay ahead of the heat. In cases where you’re planting new options in advance of the changing seasons, “Get these things in before the heat of summer hits, because you want them to be established,” explains gardening expert Linda Vater (@potagerblog). She recommends keeping an eye on the 10-day forecast to beat the hottest temperatures.
Shades of Green
Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
‘Nelliet’ holly anchors this lush and leafy display, which also features grasslike ‘EverColor Everest’ carex, fluffy ‘Cracked Ice’ heucherella, and variegated ivy. Hellebores punch up its springy appeal.
Summer Refresh:
Make room for seasonal hues by transplanting the hellebores to the garden and digging out the ivy. Add white SunPatiens to accentuate the existing palette or vibrant-toned coleus to tease out the purple-red veins in the heucherella.
Tips
Help your plants keep their cool. “As it gets hotter, things that were previously happy in full sun may start looking a little weather weary,” says Vater. “In that case, you might want to move them into partial shade or a place that gets morning sun and afternoon shade.” The heucherella, for instance, may crave a bit more water and some respite from the rays.
Sharp Contrast
Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
For a textured look that holds its color throughout the year and requires little in the way of maintenance, we filled a large vessel with ‘Beyond Blue’ fescue, ‘Clarity Blue’ dianella, and ‘Purple Charm’ loropetalum. Variegated ivy spills out over the edge to soften the minimalist yet striking combination.
Summer Refresh:
The ivy might begin to flag in the heat, so plan to remove it (or at least relocate it to the shady side of the container) before temperatures begin climbing. Otherwise, notes Vater, you can leave the evergreen trio as is to fill in the pot. “Give those roots room to roam and show their stuff,” says the plant pro.
Tips
Show your Old-timers some love. After you’ve nixed (or exchanged) the less heat-tolerant options, lavish attention on the plants staying put. “Make sure that you water them really well. You might even give them a good organic food,” advises Vater, who also suggests removing any brown leaves or burned foliage you spot and checking for pests and fungal problems.
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