Planting a Container Garden
Container gardening is the perfect solution if you are limited for space but want to add native and flowering plants to your outdoor space. Pollinator gardens do not need to be on large plots of land. Pots on a patio or deck will bring the pollinators to your back door. Follow the guidelines below to make a small oasis for yourself and pollinators.
Choose Your Container
Choose a container that is aesthetically pleasing, but also one that will offer good drainage and evaporation. Your pot should have a drainage hole and be big enough to allow your plants plenty of room to grow. A perennial plant will start small but can quickly become stifled by the size of its pot if you don’t plan ahead.
Use the Right Kind of Soil
Fill your pot or barrel with soil specifically designed for containers. Dirt from your yard is usually too dense for potted plants. Choose organic soil that is free of pesticides and neonics.
Plant an Herb Garden
Herbs are the perfect plants for small containers. They need very little space to grow. You can snip herbs all summer long and when they flower, the bees will come. Lavender, chives, oregano, thyme, basil, bee balm and rosemary are all native to the Pacific Northwest and will attract lots of pollinators.
Parsley, chives and thyme in a burlap planting bag
Overwintering Container Plants
During winter months, plants in pots may need to be protected from freezing. Roots can freeze or become soggy. Pots can crack. This is not a huge problem in the Pacific Northwest, where winters are generally mild, but during extended snowy periods or very low temperatures, protect your pots by storing them in a shed or garage, and remove soil from empty pots.
Plant a Variety of Plants
Your pot’s location in a sunny or shady spot will determine the plants you will plant. For the Pollinators, choose native plants that are adapted to the NW environment.
You can create a stunning container by mixing different types of plants. Use the concept of planting a thriller, some spillers and some fillers. Your thriller will be a tall perennial plant that will be the centerpiece of your container. Spillers are plants that spill over the side of the pot and trail down. Fillers can be annuals that add continuous color to the pot and fill in the gaps.
Pacific Northwest native plants that make great thrillers include Fringe Cup, Oregon Grape, Goatsbeard, Evergreen Huckleberry, Penstemen and Maidenhair Fern.
Plants that make good spillers are Verbena, Kinnikinnick and Monkeyflower. Some spillers are ground covers that will spread and eventually take over your pot. Try to choose plants that will spill over the side of your pot without creeping into the pot.