Discover the beauty and versatility of container gardening, perfect for enhancing any outdoor space with vibrant colors, delicious flavors, and stylish arrangements. Learn how to create stunning combinations using thrillers, spillers, and fillers, while exploring inspirational ideas for window boxes and portable gardens. Transform your environment with vibrant blooms, succulent textures, and practical tips to attract pollinators and elevate your gardening experience.
1 GETTING STARTED • Whether you want to plant one pot to perk up your porch or dozens to enliven every one of your outdoor spaces, we’ve got you covered with container gardening basics.
2 FABULOUS COMBOS • Fashion vibrant container gardens by selecting plants that bring height, texture, and color to your yard.
Sow Container Magic • Creating an impressive container is a cinch when you use the “thrillers, fillers, and spillers” method. Follow these tips to get gorgeous pots.
3 DRESS TO THRILL • Set your best foot forward with a window box overflowing with cheerful blooms that invite everyone in.
SURPRISING STYLE • WANT AN UNEXPECTED PLACE TO SHOW OFF A WINDOW BOX? HOOK OVER RAILINGS, ATTACH TO A FENCE, SET ON A WALL, OR PLACE ON A PLANT STAND UNDER A WINDOW.
Planting Know-How • Grow a window box that looks lush from spring through fall using these tips.
4 TASTY POTS • Containers are a sure-fire way to create glorious, delicious gardens that can fit into even the smallest of spaces.
Growing Citrus Indoors • Most citrus for indoor growing are trees grafted onto dwarf rootstock to keep them small. Purchasing a 2-to 3-year-old plant will provide flowers and fruit sooner. To grow citrus indoors, follow these tips:
5 ENTICING BLOOMS • Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators flit to flowers rich with nectar. Grow pots of blooms for them to feed on and pollinate—even if you only have a tiny outdoor living space.
DELICIOUS PLANTING RECIPES • PLANT CONTAINERS THAT ENTICE POLLINATORS, ENRICH THEIR HABITAT, AND ENSURE A BLOOMING FOOD SOURCE WITH THESE COMBOS FROM PROVEN WINNERS.
Draw in Pollinators
6 METAL MAGIC • Want a sleek and modern look for your garden? Or something rustic or industrial? Team up plants with galvanized containers that bring a metallic note to your potted creations.
7 TEXTURAL POWERS • If you don’t have time to give containers a lot of TLC, opt for low-maintenance yet intriguingly lush succulents. Plant them up for good looks that last all summer long.
8 BRANCH OUT • Plant small trees or shrubs in containers to bring glorious color, interesting shapes, and fun surprises to your entry, patio, or deck.
Growing Trees and Shrubs • Discover the essentials of growing trees and shrubs in pots—from selecting the right container and soil mix to providing seasonal care. Use these tip to keep them thriving indoors and outdoors, even through winter.
9 INGENIOUS STYLE • Perk up an outdoor seating area, deck corner, or patio tabletop with clever container ideas.
10 GROWING LITTLE WORLDS • Want to create your own enchanting world in a container? Check out our Q&A with Janit Calvo, director of inspiration for the Miniature Garden Hobby, creator of miniature gardening site and shop twogreenthumbs.com and author of the book Gardening in Miniature.
Trim, Train, and Thrive • Pick dwarf trees and shrubs that mimic full-size trees that you see in your landscape for a truly enchanting miniature garden.
FLOWERING PLANT PICKS • BRING SOME COLOR TO YOUR TINY SCENE WITH ONE—OR MORE—OF THESE PETITE BLOOM RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MINIATURE GARDENS EXPERT JANIT CALVO.
11 RAISE TO NEW HEIGHTS • Lend a colorful or textural punch at eye level—even in the smallest of spaces—by opting for a hanging...