Planters Etc. Blog - Page 2 of 6

How Underplanting In Your Planters Enables Creativity

July 1, 2018 by Craig Urbine Leave a Comment

Underplanting is an important concept to learn if you want to make the most of your planters and exercise your creativity. While the walls of the planter may make you feel like you need to plant only in the center of the pot, or in equal quadrants, underplanting offers a more fluid alternative that you will definitely love.

What is Underplanting?

Underplanting is the practice of planting a variety of complementary plant species in the space beneath a planter’s primary inhabitant. Most often, this is done when there is a strong focal point in the center of the planter, such as a large tree or flowering shrub that dominates the planter. Even with such a plant in the center, it is easy to see that there is plenty of real estate left around the outside of the main trunk, which could be filled with colorful plants instead. That’s where underplanting comes in.

Why is Underplanting a Good Idea?

There are many reasons that underplanting is beneficial to your planters. First and foremost, it gives you more room to express your creativity. You can choose from a selection of ground cover plants, as well as small flowers that add contrasting colors at the base of your primary plant. You can use seashells, rocks and other decor to create artistic designs amid these smaller plants, or you can add vines that you can train to flow out of the planter, covering part of the side in a cascade of colorful blooms. There are tons of possibilities for using this space to expand upon your floral design concepts.

In addition, underplanting can help keep your planters healthier by giving you the ability to mix and match plants that return important nutrients to the soil. Plus, by covering up the exposed soil with a thick cover, you are ensuring that it doesn’t dry out as fast. The extra cover protects the soil from wind and sun, which erodes its quality over time.

Underplanting Techniques to Try

One way to transform your planters year round is with the help of spring bloom bulbs. For the majority of the year, these bulbs serve the purpose of covering the ground with long green leaves. They tend to look like decorative grasses to the untrained eye. However, they really shine when the seasons change. They can fill out the planter with colorful blooms when all of your other plants are still in hibernation. If you’re tired of having dead-looking planters during the cool months of the year, underplanting with bulbs can bring things back to life.

If you’re interested in adding some texture and layering to your planters, you should start looking into low growing shade-friendly shrubs. Hostas and ferns are often placed closest to the base of the primary tree because they are able to thrive in that environment, and they will grow upward just enough to cover a portion of the tree trunk with lush greenery. As you move outward toward the edges of the planter in concentric circles, you can add plants that grow lower to the ground, including annuals that you can easily maintain and replace when necessary. Thus, the core of your planter is multi-dimensional, while the outer edges are accented with bits of color.

There are dozens of great underplanting examples available online, and your local nursery is able to help you find plant species that are especially hearty for this purpose. With underplanting, you have even more canvas to bring your garden art to life. To learn more about creating picturesque underplanting, check out all our products or visit our photo gallery for more ideas!

How To Use a Planter For Vines And Climbers

June 8, 2018 by Craig Urbine Leave a Comment

Climbing vines can make a bold statement in front of any building or along any pathway. However, when left in an open garden, they often encroach on surrounding plants and can be difficult to contain. Choosing a decorative planter for vines offers a simple solution for keeping your unruly vines and climbers in check while allowing you to shape the look of your garden.

Choosing a Planter for Vines

If there is one thing we do know about vines it’s that they can grow forever, and they are very good at getting their tendrils into cracks and crevices, eventually damaging structures. This is important to keep in mind if you are considering planters that have naturally porous surfaces which may invite vines to break apart the structure over time. In addition, flimsy plastic pots will not hold up for the duration of a vine’s life, requiring you to replant often. If you want to keep your vines contained in planters, you won’t want to discover that the vines’ roots have broken apart the base of your planter and entered the native soil, allowing them to spread outward unchecked. The best solution is durable, smooth sided planters such as fiberglass that are free from imperfections which might allow vines to grow wild. A fiberglass planter for vines is also a good solution because vines require full sunlight, and the finished planter will not fade or discolor in the heat. Just make sure you give your vines at least 16″ of soil to grow down into, and you should have happy and healthy plants.

Add Supports

Another factor you will want to consider is the type of support you want to add to your planter. For small home displays, a few bamboo shoots are usually sufficient to direct your vines upward. They can easily be tied together near the top to form a neat frame for your climbers. However, if you want a more presentable and professional look, you might want to place an iron trellis or obelisk in the center of a pot which allows your vines to grow upward with an ornamental accent. There are dozens of trellises, mesh frames and other options available to help you direct your vine growth while also protecting the surrounding area from stray vines.

Bring on the Flowers

The most exciting part of all is selecting which vines you would like to display. The most popular vines are perennials because once they’re established they can be easily maintained year after year. However, there are some very enticing annuals that you can add to the mix if you’re up for the extra work. You can choose your vines based on a particular color scheme, or you can pick up an assortment of colors and bloom shapes that will make your garden pop. If you time things just right, you could have different vines in bloom at each part of the season. Morning Glories are a traditional favorite, which come in many different colors, as well as Sweet Peas. Don’t forget to add some good old fashioned green ivy in to serve as a solid backdrop for your flowers. It is a good filler plant that is easy to grow in most environments. Add a touch of Star Jasmine or Passion Flower to the center of your display and you will have a truly eye-catching design.

With those three simple steps, you could have a gorgeous container garden full of blossoming vines and climbers. The better you plan ahead with your planter selection and your supports, the more artistic you can get with training your vines to grow in beautiful patterns and shapes. To see a full gallery of ideas and more information about how to choose a planter for vines, check out our online store today!

Choosing The Right Planter For Your Favorite Plant

May 15, 2018 by Craig Urbine Leave a Comment

When decorating your interior space with house plants, you’re not just adding finishing touches to your room, you’re also enhancing the quality of life for everyone who enters it. Choosing the right planter not only adds that finishing touch to your space. It also provides a container in which your plant will grow and live. Choosing the right planter with the right combination of color and design for your décor, as well as the proper size for your plant can result in dramatic results for both your interior space and your plant life.

Picking the correct planter is vital to the lifespan and growth rate of your greenery. The planter affects how quickly the soil will dry, the space in which the plant has to grow, the health of the plant’s roots, and how much light is allowed to actually reach the plant. So, as well as needing the right amounts of water and light, the plant requires the perfect planter to provide its foundation for life.

Choose the right size

Plants need room to grow. However, if you give them too much space, the plant will sit in water too long. This can cause the soil to build up a large supply of nutrients which can negatively affect the plant and ultimately end up causing a nutrient burn. If the plant is crowded into a planter too small, the plant becomes rootbound. This reduces the amount of water the soil is able to hold and ultimately ends up killing the plant. Large rooted plants require deeper pots. Smaller plants require smaller space. If you find your large plant doesn’t fill up the entire space of a large-sized pot, consider planting smaller plants around the base of it to fill up the excessive space. This not only assists your larger plant and also improves the overall look and presentation of your plants and planter.

Choose the right spot

Pick the right location in the room for your planter. For indoor plants, large-scaled planters can easily become a focal point in the room. Be sure to choose a color that is complementary to the pot’s surroundings, whether an indoor space or outdoor location, such as a patio. Be sure to notice if the plant is going to receive the correct amount of sunlight and shade in your intended location. Whether indoor or outdoor, if the plant will receive a lot of sun, the plant will tend to dry out quickly and require frequent watering. Too much shade can stunt the plant’s growth and inhibit the amount of chlorophyll the plant produces, thus lessening the green in the plant’s coloring.

Will the plant be moved?

Large plants can be tedious to move. If you tend to switch things around in the room or your patio, consider going with two smaller plants rather than one large plant. Go with “the more the merrier” approach. Indoor plants help regulate humidity and have a calming affect on people within the room. Groupings of greenery serve both aesthetic and practical purposes within indoor spaces. Groups of indoor plants can be a stunning display and focal point.

Our planters are the solution!

Our fiberglass planters provide the perfect foundation for your plant and your décor. The attractive designs and color-schemes enable you to design that perfect fit for your office, home, or outdoor space – we make choosing the right planter fun! The durable, lightweight resign and stylish construction will provide your plant the perfect home for years to come! Not only will you be thrilled with the presentation, but your plant will thrive in its new home! Most of all you will love the durability our fiberglass planters will offer you and your space. You’ll both be pleased with the results our planters provide!

5 Money-Saving Industrial Landscape Ideas To Stay Under Budget

May 29, 2017 by Craig Urbine Leave a Comment

If you own a business or are in charge of landscaping a particular building, you may have realized just how much landscape companies can charge for design and maintenance. While many larger corporations can easily afford to keep up with their landscaping, smaller businesses have a tough time when it comes to presenting a professional outer appearance while also staying under a tight budget. To help those who don’t have thousands to spend on landscaping each month, we have put together a list of money-saving landscaping ideas.

Work Around Natural Landscapes

Flattening hills, removing large trees, filling ponds or replacing grassy areas with gravel can be quite expensive, which is why it’s typically a good idea to develop a design that incorporates the natural landscape instead of altering it. Nature and pre-existing landscapes are actually your biggest asset when it comes to landscaping, so might as well use them.

Use Stone Pavers & Walls

Another way to save on industrial landscaping is with the incorporation of stone pavers along walkways and stone retainer walls. When shopping for materials, keep in mind that the price of stone pavers can vary depending on the type of stone. Also keep in mind the fact that different types of stone are recommended for different types of environment. However, flagstone is generally a popular pick for both residential and industrial landscaping.

Choose Seasonal Plants

You can also keep landscaping costs down by choosing plants, shrubs or flowers that are in season instead of deciding on just one type and sticking with it. If you’re not sure which seasonal plants to choose, it might help to do a little research online, consult with a professional corporate landscaper or talk with the owner of a nursery.

Invest in Quality Planters

Those who are looking to keep costs down when it comes to commercial landscaping should consider that the quality of pots and plant containers you use can make a world of difference. If you want to get the biggest bang for your buck, it’s best to choose fiberglass planters that are resistant to the elements. They also don’t turn brittle and break apart after just one planting season, so you won’t have to replace them as often. Our fiberglass pots and planters are particularly sturdy and conveniently frost-resistant!

Make Sure You Have a Plan

Of course you’re going to also need a clear plan if you want to save the most amount of money possible. Mistakes are what drive up final design bills and the cost of maintenance. This is why it’s highly suggested you obtain the advice of a professional who has years of experience. They have helped business owners, property managers, and others design a blueprint that takes all crucial factors into account.

Landscaping your commercial property doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. If the cost is your biggest concern, you should refer to these tips and ideas when it comes time to revamp your storefront. We have a big selection of outdoor planters to add to your outdoor oasis. Restaurants, salons, medical practices, law firms – whatever your specialty, having beautiful curb appeal is what will bring your customers in the door!

Planting with Pots 101

January 16, 2017 by Craig Urbine Leave a Comment

Container gardening or planting with pots can be tricky if you aren’t fully equipped with the correct materials. You’ll of course need a few of our extra tough fiberglass pots or plant containers, but you’ll also need a quality liner in order to keep soil contained and roots protected. However, you need to keep in mind that there are a few different types of planter liners which are used for different types of planting. Keep reading to get an idea of which type of planting pot liner will work best for you.

Plastic Liners

Plastic pot liners are a popular choice because they’re affordable and easy to use. These plastic liners also come in a variety of textures and designs, allowing you to select ones that fit the needs of the specific kind of plants you plan on planting. You can even find sturdy plastic discs that are placed at the bottom of your planting container in order to lift it up and allow proper drainage.

Foam Liners

Some gardeners or landscapers prefer to use pearls made out of recycled foam at the bottom of pots and planters. They’re lightweight, inexpensive and available in bulk packages online and at local home improvement stores.

Coco Liners

Liners made out of coco fibers are typically chosen by both landscapers and home gardeners. Just keep in mind that coco liners tend to do best when added to hanging pots because they like to be able to breathe. The downside to coco liners is that they can get a little expensive depending on the size of the liner and the brand.

Fabric Liners

Fabric liners or grow bags are usually the ideal choice for plants with medium roots because they allow more air to reach them and improve drainage in order to prevent them from overheating during drought or dry spells. They also help plants root quicker than other liners and some of them come with built-in handles that make it easy to transplant when needed.

Homemade Mixes

If you don’t have a budget that allows you to invest in plastic net liners, fabric pot liners or coco liners, you can always make your own pot liner at home with things from around the yard. All you have to do is gather a few twigs, a bit of mulch, some pine needles, a handful of sandy dirt or clay and build layers along the interior of your planting pots.

Planting with pots is a trend that is here to stay. If you plan to experiment with your own container garden, plant design or potted display, make sure you check out our collection of plant planters. We offer a line of top quality fiberglass pots which can be used either indoors or outdoors. They are available in an assortment of muted colors, vibrant shades, sultry colors and different finishes, allowing you to mix-and-match them as you see fit. Use a few window planters to grow herbs and spices, use a large tree pot to plant a fruit tree or use a decorative planter to enhance your patio décor.