Backyard Container Garden Ideas for a Colorful Summer

Are you ready to fill your backyard with summer colors? If you want backyard container ideas, you want to take advantage of these secrets to a flourishing container garden. 

Learning Over Time

When I was younger, my grandmother taught me to wait until after the first full moon in May before planting flowers and vegetables. Initially, I thought it was just an old wives’ tale, but I later discovered it was not.

In The Maritimes, this is usually the last time we experience frost, and it’s always better to wait if you are planting flowers sensitive to cold climates. 

When it comes to container gardening, I love bright colors! Even though my home decor is primarily neutral, gardening lets me play with complementary colors. It is very similar to designing your home, meaning you get to play with colors, textures, structure, and symmetry. 

Although you can pick up a ready-made container at various garden centers, you can choose a different route. Why? Container gardening is easy and enjoyable, involving just a few simple steps!

This post is about backyard container garden ideas.

How to re-create beautiful backyard container garden ideas

First, think about:

• Plant location preferences
• Using the right containers

Before purchasing a plant, always consider where it will be placed. Selecting a plant according to its location preference can help ensure its healthy growth and longevity.

• Some plants thrive in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. 
• Others prefer part sun or partial shade, which means they need around three to six hours of sunlight but can also tolerate some shade. 
• Lastly, some plants prefer shaded areas and may wither if exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. 

Use the right container. Ensure the container is large enough to accommodate the root system and provides adequate drainage.

• Use large containers or pots of various sizes for a colorful display
• Create a hanging planter filled with blooms and greenery
• Window boxes filled with flowers that adorn your favorite rooms

Container Gardening Tools:

Before you start planting, you also want to ensure you have basic garden tools on hand:

• Gardening gloves (I rarely wear them; there is just something about getting your hands dirty).
• A garden spade
• Good potting soil is essential for beautiful container planting. Look for a potting mix specific to containers that will allow for well-drained soil. Fill containers an inch from the top.
• Fertilizer  (water-soluble or slow-release). My all-time favorite is Miracle Grow Blooms.
• A watering can

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Container Garden Design

If you want a simple container garden idea, this is it! When combining multiple plants in a container, I use this basic concept most gardeners use.

1. Create height with eye-catching tall plants as your focal point.

• Use ornamental grasses or large flowering or green plants.
• Place this in the center or back of the container. 

2. Use filler plants to fill up the container

• Place the filler in the front and inside the container to fill up the space
• You want the eye-catching vertical plant to be surrounded by your filler plants

3. Add a trailing plant to create movement

• Trailers are placed close to the side of your container
• If your container is against a wall, you can add it to the side of the planter
• If your container can be seen from all sides, you want to add trailing plants on all sides for balance

What types of plants can be used in container gardens?

Tropical plants

Tropical plants are native to tropical regions typically found near the equator. The climate is warm and humid throughout the year. In Eastern Canada, we usually keep these indoors, but during the summer, Mother Nature allows us to use them outdoors, giving a tropical feel to our outdoor oasis. Examples of tropical plants include orchids, palms, ferns, hibiscus, and various tropical tree types. 

Vines

These beautiful flowing plants add vertical interest to your containers. Depending on the type, they offer greenery or bright blooms as they trail or climb. I enjoy using clematis, sweet potato vine, vinca vine, honeysuckle, and black-eyed susan. 

Annuals

Annuals are ideal for container gardens because they offer a season of vibrant color and can be easily replaced yearly. Million Bells has to be one of my favorite annuals, along with petunias, verbena, and so much more.

Perennials

Perennials are an excellent choice for container gardens as they return year after year, providing beauty and structure. My favorite perennials that thrive in containers are lavender, salvia, daylilies, hosta, and ferns. Consider Winter Care: In colder climates, protect a winter container or bring it indoors to prevent root damage from freezing.

Shrubs

Container gardening is a versatile and convenient way to grow shrubs, even in limited spaces. Try shrubs like boxwood, hydrangea, dwarf Japanese maple, roses, and different types of dwarf conifers. 

Small Trees

Small trees can make stunning additions to container gardens, offering structure and beauty. Try Japanese maple, dwarf citrus trees, olive trees, dwarf apple trees, topiary trees, and fig trees.

Beginner-Friendly Container Gardens

How to create using a combination of plants

Like interior design, creating a visually appealing container garden involves blending colors, textures, and plant varieties. Here are some color combinations and plant arrangement ideas to help you design a stunning backyard container garden:

1. Bold and Bright Colors

• Colors: Red, orange, yellow
• Plant List:
  • Red Geraniums
  • Orange Marigolds
  • Yellow Zinnias
  • Variegated Coleus for foliage

2. Cool and Calming

• Colors: Blue, purple, white
• Plant List:
  • Blue Lobelia
  • Purple Petunias
  • White Alyssum
  • Silver Dust (Centaurea cineraria) for foliage

3. Soft and Subtle

• Colors: Pink, lavender, white
• Plant List:
  • Pink Begonias
  • Lavender Verbena
  • White Impatiens
  • Dusty Miller for foliage

4. Earthy and Natural

• Colors: Green, brown, yellow
• Plant List:
  • Ferns for green texture
  • Ornamental grasses
  • Yellow Coreopsis
  • Ivy for trailing greenery

5. Contrasting Colors

• Colors: Purple and yellow
• Plant List:
  • Purple Salvia
  • Yellow Marigolds
  • Purple Verbena
  • Variegated Hosta

6. Monochromatic Elegance

• Colors: Various shades of a single color
• Plant List:
  • Light Pink Petunias
  • Dark Pink Geraniums
  • Pink Snapdragons
  • Pink-leafed Coleus

7. Tropical Vibes

• Colors: Red, orange, purple
• Plant List:
  • Red Cannas
  • Orange Hibiscus
  • Purple Bougainvillea
  • Caladiums

8. Sunset Shades

• Colors: Orange, pink, red
• Plant List:
  • Orange Calibrachoa
  • Pink Gerbera Daisies
  • Red Verbena
  • Variegated Vinca Vine

Edible Container Plants 

Another option is to use fresh herbs and create a beautiful herb garden. Try planting tomatoes, peppers, strawberries and a fruit tree in containers. This easy project will bring color to your outdoor oasis and give you fresh herbs, veggies and fruit for your next meal.

Related Post:

• Beginner’s Guide: Growing the Best Herbs at Home

Your Next Adventure…

If you want to add some color and life to your living space this summer, container gardening is an excellent option. It is a great way to bring nature indoors and a fun and rewarding hobby that gardeners of all levels of experience can enjoy.

Once you’ve selected your containers, soil, and plants, it’s time to get creative and start arranging your garden. Mix and match different colors, textures, and heights to create a beautiful, welcoming display that can grace your front door, deck, or patio.

Don’t be intimidated by container gardening—even if you’re a beginner, you can find joy in this simple and rewarding hobby. With patience, care, and creativity, you can create a stunning oasis in your home or outdoor space. So why not give container gardening a try and test your green thumb!

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