Container gardening is a great way to bring a touch of nature to your home in early spring! By planting early, you can ensure your plants will have plenty of time to thrive in the warmer weather. Hellebores, primroses, creeping phlox, and ornamental kale and cabbage are all great container plants for early spring. With the right care, you can create a beautiful and vibrant garden that will stay with you for months to come.
Why Plant Containers in Early Spring?
Planting containers in early spring allows you to enjoy colorful flowers, foliage and blooms all season long. Early spring is the perfect time of year to get your garden off to a great start and create stunning display of color and texture that will last all season long. It’s a great way to add interest to your landscape and create a beautiful focal point.
Container plants are much easier to maintain than traditional garden beds, as you can simply move them around your yard, to follow the sun or shade as needed. You’ll also have the freedom to experiment with color combinations, so it’s a great opportunity to get creative and make your yard look its best.
Best Container Plants for Early Spring
Pansies and hellebores are excellent choices for your container garden in early spring. Not only are they attractive and colorful, but they are also very hardy plants that can survive the cold temperatures.
Primroses also make for a wonderful addition, as they can bloom for an extended period of time if you are able to protect them from the cold. For some extra color and texture, consider planting creeping phlox, ornamental kale, or cabbage. These plants will add a unique look to your garden and will make the area stand out.
When caring for container plants in early spring, make sure to put them in a location that will get plenty of sunlight.
The soil should be well-draining, and you should water your plants regularly. Fertilizer will help them to grow and thrive, and regular pruning will help to keep them looking their best. With the right care and maintenance, these plants will flourish and provide you with beautiful blooms all season long.
Pansies
Pansies are a great choice for early spring container plants. Their cheerful blooms come in a variety of colors and their vigorous growth will fill your containers with blooms in no time.
Plant pansies in a sunny location in a good quality soil mix and water them regularly. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer every other week. To keep your pansies healthy, deadhead them regularly to promote new blooms. If your pansies become leggy and lose their shape, cut them back by a third to encourage new growth.
Hellebores
Hellebores are an excellent choice for early spring container plants. These hardy perennials will add a splash of color to your patio or balcony. The most commonly grown hellebores are hybrid crosses of the Oriental hellebore, with large saucer-shaped flowers in shades of rose, pink, and white.
Hellebores can also be grown from seed, but it takes years for plants to reach flowering maturity.
Plant them in bright filtered light and in rich, moist, but well-drained soil. Water regularly in summer, but cut down on watering in winter. Fertilize once a month or as needed during the growing season.
Prune off faded flowers in late winter or early spring to encourage new growth. With proper care, hellebores can provide years of color in your containers.
Primroses
Primroses are a stunning, low-maintenance flower that are perfect for brightening up early spring. They come in a variety of colors, so you can easily find the right one to suit your container garden.
Best of all, they’re hardy, so they’ll survive even the coldest temperatures. To ensure your primroses stay healthy, make sure you plant them in a location that gets plenty of morning sun and afternoon shade.
This will ensure the soil is moist and the flowers are blooming. When it comes to soil, you want something that is well-draining and nutrient-rich.
If you can provide these conditions, your primroses will thrive. As for watering, make sure to water deeply about once a week, or more often if the weather is hot. To keep your primroses blooming, you may want to add some fertilizer to the soil every two to four weeks. You’ll want to trim off any dead or diseased foliage during the growing season to keep your primroses looking their best.
Creeping Phlox
Creeping phlox is a great addition to any early spring container garden. It is a flowering plant that comes in lovely shades of pink, white, and purple.
Planting it in the sunnier areas of your garden will ensure it will bloom generously. When planting creeping phlox, it is important to make sure the soil is well-drained and slightly acidic.
To keep the soil in prime condition, add a layer of mulch around the plant. As for watering, creeping phlox likes to stay slightly moist and shouldn’t be neglected for too long. Be sure to check for pests monthly, as these can quickly become a problem if not treated early. If you keep an eye on your creeping phlox and take good care of it, it will reward you with a beautiful, colorful display that will last until the end of spring.
Ornamental Kale and Cabbage
Kale and cabbage are a great choice for your spring container garden. These plants are easy to care for, thrive in the cool weather of spring, and add texture and color to your planters. Both kale and cabbage have large, dark leaves, and you can find varieties with different shades of green, as well as purple and red.
Best of all, they don’t take up too much space and will quickly fill out a container garden, adding a nice backdrop to your other plantings. To get the most out of your kale and cabbage, make sure you find a spot for them that gets plenty of sunlight and keep the soil moist.
You can fertilize your plants every few weeks to give them a boost, and be sure to trim off any leaves that become discolored or damaged. With a bit of care, you can enjoy your kale and cabbage for the entire spring season.
How to Care for Container Plants
When caring for container plants, location is key. Choose a spot that gets plenty of sunshine throughout the day as most flowers need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Make sure the area is not too windy and that there is enough space to place the container without overcrowding other plants. For best results, it’s important to use the right kind of soil for the type of plant. Use a well-draining soil mix specifically designed for containers and mix in some organic matter like compost or peat moss to give the plant the best chance at thriving.
Water your container plants regularly, making sure not to overwater. Give them a good soaking when they need it and check the soil moisture before adding any more.
Don’t forget to fertilize, too! Just like all plants, container plants need to be fed once in a while to provide them with the essential nutrients they need to stay healthy.
Use a balanced fertilizer that’s designed for flowers in containers and apply it every few weeks according to the directions. Keep your container plants in shape by pruning and deadheading them as needed. Deadheading will help them keep producing flowers, while pruning will keep them from getting too big and unruly.
Location
For container plants, the location is key. When choosing the right spot for your container plants, make sure it’s in an area with plenty of sunlight — at least 6-8 hours each day. If your spot gets more sun than that, that’s even better!
Check for any nearby trees or structures that might provide too much shade and block the sunlight.
Keep your containers away from drafty areas and near walls, as these can cause too much wind for your plants. Consider the temperature of the area you’re planting in. If it gets too cold at night, your plants won’t be able to survive.
If it’s warm enough, your plants will be able to thrive even during colder months.
It’s best to locate your containers where they will receive direct sun in the morning and indirect sun in the afternoon. This will give your plants the perfect balance of warmth and light. Make sure the area you choose also has enough space to accommodate your container plants.
If you don’t have enough space, you can always place your containers together on a balcony or patio. Just remember to give your plants some breathing room to ensure they don’t get too crowded. With the right location, your container plants should be able to survive and flourish all year-round!
Soil
Choosing the right soil for your container plant is essential for its early spring growth. The best soil for container plants is loamy, well-drained soil. Choose a soil that is specifically designed for container plants, as it will provide your plants with the nutrients they need.
You can add compost or fertilizer to the soil to ensure that your plants get the nutrients they need to thrive in early spring.
It’s also important to monitor the soil moisture levels in your containers to make sure your plants are receiving the water they need. Aim for evenly moist soil, and only water when the surface of the soil is dry. If the soil is too wet, it can cause root rot, so be sure to check the soil regularly to make sure it’s not overly saturated with water.
Water
Watering your container plants is an important part of caring for them. Early spring is a time when you’re likely to see more rainfall but you should still be prepared to give your plants a good drink of water every few days if needed. Make sure to keep an eye out for dry soil and give your plants a generous water when needed.
Try to water your container plants in the morning or evening to reduce the amount of evaporation so your plants can benefit from the moisture. Don’t forget to check for any drainage holes in the container and keep in mind that the soil will dry out faster if there’s no mulch.
Your container plants will also benefit from a bit of fertilizer every few weeks. This can help to give them the nutrients they need to thrive.
Look for a balanced fertilizer that’s designed for container plants and apply it according to the instructions on the packaging.
If you’re not sure which fertilizer to use, you can always ask your local gardening supplier for advice. It’s important to remember that container plants will need to be pruned regularly. This will help them to stay healthy and strong.
You can prune your plants by removing any dead or dying leaves, stems or flowers. Pruning can also help to encourage more growth, so keep an eye out for any branches that may be growing in the wrong direction and trim them back. With a bit of regular care and attention, your container plants will be looking their best this early spring.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing is an important step when caring for your container plants in early spring. You’ll want to give them the right amount of nutrients to keep them healthy and growing. Start by using a slow-release fertilizer that’s formulated specifically for container plants.
This will give your plants a steady supply of nutrients over time.
Avoid using quick-release fertilizers as they can burn the roots of your plants and lead to stunted growth. Once you’ve determined the type of fertilizer you’ll use, the next step is to determine the proper amount.
It’s best to apply the fertilizer at a rate that’s recommended on the package instructions. Too much fertilizer can cause nutrient burn, which will harm your plants. Make sure to water the fertilizer in to ensure that it gets to the roots of the plants.
Pruning
When it comes to pruning container plants for early spring, it’s important to do it the right way to ensure healthy, vibrant foliage. Start by cutting off any dead or diseased leaves or stems.
You can use pruning shears, garden scissors, or handsaw, depending on the size of the plant and how thick the stem is. Be sure to sterilize your pruning tools before and after use to help prevent disease from spreading. If you need to shape the plant, prune branches to the desired height and shape.
Don’t forget to check for pest infestations and remove any pests you find. Doing this regularly will prevent them from spreading.