Colorful pansy pots

Southern Living, Feb 2001 by Riley, Ellen

A great-looking container takes careful planning. First, choose the best pot for your home. Take a good look at its location, and consider the surroundings-house and trim paint, stone, brickwork, existing landscape, and outdoor furniture all play a part in developing the proper combination of color and texture, and the planter's tone and material should relate to these things. Choose a pot that looks comfortable in your location, and the plants will only enhance its appearance.

Next, determine your pansy color scheme using the same principles. Choose one color flower for a dressy appearance, and several shades for a more casual look. When adding other plants, as we have, make sure they all belong to the same color family.

TERRA-COTTA THREESOME

Our clay trio illustrates building a collection around a central color theme. Yellow, orange, and red-all color cousins-establish a range of shades that includes the clay pots. (In parts of the South where clay may suffer freeze damage, substitute terra-cotta-colored plastic.) In the yellow pansy pot, we added a small aucuba with golden variegation to mirror the flowers, plus a leatherleaf mahonia with winter's lemon-colored blooms.

The pot to its left, filled with orange and red pansies, has a redtwig dogwood for height and color. The container below repeats the same flower combination, with `Bright Lights' chard adding vibrant texture. In this arrangement, the plants and containers work together to create a fun and cohesive mix.

VIOLAS AND COMPANY

An old square planter with aged, peeling paint is a good choice for this landing where brick meets stone. The pot and mortar share the same color, forming a common bond between the location and the container.

Purple violas billow over the front of the pot, their color tying together the red brick and bluestone. In back, shades of violet are continued with leafy purple sage, while dusty miller adds a silver surprise and gently relates to the shade of the door frame and bluestone.

Containers are the finishing touch to any landscape, and pansies warm the winter with colorful blooms. Make them work in harmony, and you'll have perfect pansy planters. Ellen Riley

SUCCESSFUL CONTAINERS

A few basic rules always apply. Follow our suggestions and your pots will flourish.

* A large drainage hole is essential.

* Use good-quality potting soil.

* Thoroughly moisten the soil before planting.

* Mix a granular timed-release fertilizer, such as 14-14-14, into the soil when planting.

* Place the container in sufficient light for the plants you have selected.

* Continually monitor the soil, keeping it slightly moist at all times.

checklist

* Daffodils-The best time to cut these bulbs for indoor arranging is when they are still at the bud stage but showing a hint of flower color. By cutting then, you can add several days of life to your arrangement.

* Cut branches-When forsythia, quince, star magnolia, and saucer magnolia buds show a touch of color, they are easy to force into bloom indoors. Cut branches, taking care not to destroy the natural shape of the plant. They should be in full bloom several days after you place them in a vase of water indoors.

* Vegetables-In all but the Upper South, it is time to plant onion sets, lettuce, spinach, and seed potatoes. All of these vegetables are somewhat frost tolerant, so don't worry if the nights are still cold in your area.

* Trees-This is an excellent time to plant trees. Think about where you want shade in your landscape, then select a tree that fits your needs. Remember if you live in areas where the subsoil is a hardpan or rock based, you might want to consider a fibrous-- rooted tree such as a maple instead of a tap-rooted tree such as a white oak. Ask your nursery to show you which trees' root systems fit your subsoil type before you make your purchase.

* Pruning-Except for maples and birches, now is a good time to prune trees. If the limbs are more than an inch in diameter, use the threestep method for removing branches. Make the first cut on the underside of the limb around 6 to 8 inches away from the trunk. Cut about half the thickness of the branch. Go to the top of the limb, and cut off the limb halfway between the underside cut and the trunk. The resulting stub should then be cut within a /2 inch of the trunk.

* Lawns-Winter weeds are evident in dormant warm-season turf now. Spot applications of post-emergence herbicides or hand pulling are about the only methods of control. When selecting a post-emergence herbicide such as Purge, Weed-Stop, or Weed-B-Gon, make sure you follow label directions, and that the product is approved for your particular grass type. Otherwise you may injure or kill it.

Climbing Roses-- Don't prune these roses now; wait until after the first flush of blooms. However, now is a good time to tie main canes to a support before they leaf out. It is okay to remove stray canes that will not cooperate.