Whether it is on your patio, outside your dining-room window or behind your pool, a pop of color always benefits a desert landscape.
Adding an attractive, proportional pot full of summer blooms fits this bill nicely.
• Choose a pot that properly fills the space. A pot by the front door may be only 18 to 20 inches wide, while a pot out beyond the pool needs to be bigger (24 to 30 inches, perhaps).
• Make sure you will be able to get water to the pot based on the plant’s needs. A garden hose or an irrigation system is the preferred method for larger pots, but a pot by your door can often be handled with a watering can.
• You can add color with both the pot itself and the plant. Coordinate the color with your decor and style.
• Choose only a few colors to put into one pot. Over the long term, you will enjoy the pot more if it is not too busy.
• Deadhead flowers regularly, and use a water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks to help them bloom all summer long.
Flowers included in this pot are:
• Fan flower (Scaevola)
• Purple summer snaps (Angelonia)
• Black pearl ornamental pepper (Capsicum annuum)
• Red pentas (Pentas lanceolata)
Marylee is the Desert’s Potted Garden Expert. Email her with comments or questions at potteddesert@gmail.com.
