Thrillers, Fillers & Spillers: The Secret to Stunning Combo Planters
Hello, again!
What is it about going to the mountains for vacation? I love Kansas and all it has to offer, but escaping to the mountains in the summer is a relief from our summer heat. A cool night in the higher elevations with a campfire is so relaxing.
Another nice thing about the mountains is their thrilling sights, with their peaks drawing your attention from miles away. Traveling on I-70 towards the Front Range, I’m always looking for the first sight of either Pikes Peak or Longs Peak. The mountains are nice without the peaks, but they are the big attraction.
The scent of the miles of pine and spruce trees that fill in the space between the plains and the peaks is another special part of the area. That aroma continues to bring us back.
The waterfalls that spill from the highest points of the range fill our streams and rivers, giving life-sustaining water for the plants and animals. Not only are they beautiful, but the sound of the falling water on the valley floor is soothing and relaxing, keeping one staring at the falls for hours.
Similarly, the beauty of our home landscapes comes from these three elements: thrillers, fillers, and spillers. Our container gardens also use these principles when deciding what to plant.
Thrillers are the mountain peaks in the center of the planter, something tall to draw attention to the container. From ornamental grasses to a specialty coleus, or even a tropical hibiscus, these plant choices draw our eyes to the arrangement.
Fillers make up the majority of the plants around the thrillers. Just like the mountain evergreens, plants like SunPatiens, lantana, and petunias are great choices to create this transition in the container. And by using a few herbs, you can enjoy a nice aroma on the patio as well.
Spillers are the plants that flow and hold our attention. From colorful sweet potato vines, wave petunias, calibracobra, to English ivy, they spill over the edge of the container and can even cover the ground around the planter.
At Johnson’s, we design our combination planters with these principles in mind. With colorful combinations for sun or shade, we’re sure there will be a planter with a thriller, filler, and spiller that you, or your Mom, can enjoy all summer long. Take some time to go somewhere where you can enjoy thrillers, fillers, and spillers; it may just be someplace close to home.
To keep my planters looking good all summer long, here are a couple of things I do to ensure they continue to flourish:
Adding Soil Moist at planting time, or to existing planters, will help store over 200 times its weight in water and deliver it to your plants right when they need it, reducing watering by up to 50%!
When planting, and monthly during the season, I water with ferti·lome Blooming & Rooting Soluble Plant Food. Its high phosphorus content helps all flowering plants (and vegetables) bloom all summer long.
Garden Cote from ferti·lome is a polymer-coated, time-release fertilizer. Lightly mix it into the soil and water it in to feed your plants for up to 6 months! Garden Cote is activated by moisture and soil temperature with a balanced NPK and Micros to encourage longer-lasting, greener, flowering plants, with more blooms.
Don't forget our Premium Annual Sale is Today - May 10, or bring your kids to our Plant a Flower for Mom event on May 8 - 10. Also going on right now is our Mother’s Day Sale running May 6 - 10. We're offering $5 Off Peonies, as well as $5 Off our combination planters and flowering annual hanging baskets (regularly priced at $29.99 and up)!
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
