Thriller, Filler, Spiller

http://www.portlandnursery.com/plants/container-gardens/images/thriller-diagram495.png

Thriller, Filler, Spiller is a concept Frankie Flowers, aka Frank Ferragine, endorses when he advises on planting containers.  The above diagram, from Portland Nursery's site, demonstrates the concept. 

First, start with your thriller.  The thriller is the focal point and is usually tall and/or very colourful.  Used here is a dracaena but any grasses, millet, etc. will suffice.  The more stunning in formation and colour, the better.  Remember this is your thriller.

Secondly, select your fillers.  These are mid-level fill ins.  Something somewhat busy but lower growing, but not sprawling or trailing.  Depending on the light and wind, these could be begonias, marigolds, osteospermum, fuchsias, pansies, etc.  Go traditional or original, the choices are limitless.

Third, fill in around the edge of the container with your spillers.  These are trailing plants that soften the overall appearance of the container, flowing over and beyond the container, anchoring it to the garden or surrounding area.  I love to use sweet potato vine, but try bacopa, ivy, trailing osteospermum, trailing geranium, bamboo, licorice vine, etc.  Use complementary colours and textures to your advantage to make a stunning arrangement.  Here are some more photos for inspiration:

Proven Winners

In My Neighbourhood

My neighbour's Endless Summer Hydrangea is blooming.  Our soil is alkaline, here in Edmonton, so the bloom is pink.  Hers is blooming but mine isn't.  Hmmm.  Could be the move last autumn from part-shade to full sun.  Mine didn't bloom last year so I decided it needed more sun.  We'll see.

Near the ravine, several homeowners plant beyond their fences.  Here a homeowner planted pumpkin, I think.  Several others plant flowers or raspberries.

A huge mushroom.  I've seen a lot of these and other fungi this summer.  They love all this rain.

My favourite back yard in the area, above.  This one backs onto the ravine as well.

Another neighbour is growing this pretty little poppy in the front garden.  I like how this photo captures the flower in its different stages of opening.

Liatris is starting to bloom, while the groundcover, Lamium, is complementary in pink.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce in spiral form.  A few neighbours thought this was a good idea this spring.  Not all have fared as well as these, though, turning brown before summer is even done.  I hope they weren't expensive.

The gorgeous maple!!  It is the beginning of August and this pretty tree was already in full finery by the end of July.  Such a beautiful tree!

She loves her flowers!  Look at all these planters!  I'd love to see her back garden!

One of the most beautiful small landscape trees, the Russian Olive, flowers late spring and the scent is divine.  Love the foliage of soft grey/green which hangs on well into the winter.  Look at the furrows in the bark!  This tree's bark darkens over the years, sometimes looking rather charcoal which is a lovely combination with the foliage.

What's blooming in your neighbourhood?  Do you take your camera with you when you walk your dogs?  (like I sometimes do)

Soil for Your Container Gardens

Your choice of soil is one of the most important components in your container gardens.  Rob Sproule discusses soil mixes in this short video. 

Kuhlmann's Market Gardens and Greenhouses uses and highly recommends Sunshine Mix.  There are different variations of this mix depending on whether you are seeding, transplanting seedlings, or for established plants.

Remember:  Jim Hole of Holes Greenhouse in St. Albert advises when selecting a potting soil, choose one that includes spagnum peat moss.  There are other peat mosses but spagnum is the best.

Sites with soil recipes for containers:
http://www.the-artistic-garden.com/potting-soil.html
http://www.grow-it-organically.com/container-gardening-drainage.html
http://www.all-about-planters.com/articles/potting_soil.html