As landscape design Dallas professionals, we are often asked about containers. Containers have always been an interest of ours because of their different shapes and sizes. They can add a sprinkling of color to any or front entrance of a home. In a way, containers are a garden in themselves and can provide a visual focal point in areas where it may not be easy to achieve otherwise. A fully planted container can set off an area, adding some color into what otherwise may be a ‘dead spot’.

There are a several alternatives to using containers in the landscape. One point is they allow you to better control the soil mixture, rather than rely on your garden soil, and you can use a higher quality or even a special soil blend that is different from the garden. It is also easier to control the quantity of water delivered, as in our Dallas heat containers can dry out rapidly. These miniature gardens provide a way to create great arrangements because of their constrained size. You can easily create impact of color because it takes fewer plants to fill the space even though you will be using large containers.

As with any lawn, water and feeding is a requirement for its looks. We without exception install a drip line from the existing irrigation system to each container. You can run the tube through the bottom of the container or have it rise over the side of the container. A drip line will save you many hours of work. And you can go on vacation knowing that your plants will look good on your return. We highly recommend using irrigation drip lines to water your containers especially during the dry periods. Supply plant food as well as this will make your plants healthy and provide you with many flowers.

When it comes to container size – bigger is better, especially during our Dallas summers, as they can dry out fast. We recommend using large containers as they will stay watered longer than smaller containers. We also like to use large containers as they can be seen as a focal point in the garden. Let us repeat our rule - if you are going to use containers, always use a substantial one. They may be heavy but you will benefit in many ways. As mentioned, they will retain their water longer than smaller containers.

Neither will they disappear in the landscape. Here’s landscaping Dallas TX advice on this: objects tend to look smaller outside. The scale outside is different than inside. That is because the sky which acts as the “ceiling” is much farther away and the “walls” are further away. A series of small containers tend to look cluttered and visually get lost. And of course it is easier to set up a watering system and water one large container than several small pots.

When it comes to thinking about plants suitable for the Dallas climate, there are a variety to choose from. For a bright flower that can withstand the sun and heat, a good selection is Cora Periwinkle, or even colorful SunPatiens, crotons and Zebrina pedula.

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