WINTER PLANTING Container gardening creates a focal point

Create winning garden pots that will last through cold weather.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Container gardening has always been one of DeWayne Gallatin's specialties.
Like playing with a box of crayons, Gallatin uses the portable gardens to create bright color splashes and plant combinations.
"They can serve so many purposes," Gallatin says. "They can be a focal point, add height to a garden bed or just give instant full effect."
Gallatin, who works as a private gardener, recently won first place in "The Southern Gardener" container garden contest.
From a pool of more than 1,000 candidates, Gallatin and his best containers were featured in a recent 30-minute segment on PBS. As people prepare their winter gardens, Gallatin shares his tips for creating winning garden pots that will last through cold weather.
PICK THE SPOT
Before selecting plants or containers, Gallatin recommends knowing where the container will be placed.
This will help you choose plant colors that blend with the surrounding landscape. It also determines the container size you'll need to buy.
"You don't want to put a huge container in a small area," he says. "You have to think about scale."
Some spots to think about: framing both sides of an entrance, adding height to a flat garden bed and creating a focal point against a drab wall.
For example, Gallatin placed a medium-sized container between two garage doors and filled it with a tall holly illex, trailing sweet potato vine and orange zinnias.
CHOOSE THE CONTAINER
Walking through container selections at garden centers can be intimidating. From earthen to plastic containers of all shapes and sizes, it's hard to decide which will work best.
While concrete and terra cotta planters are popular, Gallatin says they aren't practical in the winter.
"They're likely to crack with the first freeze," he says. They're also heavy.
"If you use a concrete container, you need to plant in the spot where it's going to stay," he says. "Otherwise you won't be able to move it."
Gallatin prefers using polystyrene, a kind of foam that's sturdy yet lightweight and easy to move. Then he paints the containers to match the tones found in background elements.
If the container doesn't already have drainage holes, you should drill holes into the bottom.
"It's got to have good drainage," he says.
GET THE RIGHT SOIL MIX
"You get what you pay for" is one of Gallatin's mottos. And that holds true when buying potting soil for containers. While it's tempting to save money, cheap potting soil doesn't promote good drainage -- which is essential for preventing root rot.
"If you have to strain to pick up a bag of potting soil, you don't want it," he says. Instead, choose a brand that is light and fluffy with a mixture of peat moss, pearlite and slow-release fertilizer.
"I always add a little more fertilizer, even if the mix already contains it," he says.
For containers that will be stocked with seasonal annuals, Gallatin fills the bottom with pine bark first.
"This keeps the weight of the container down and promotes drainage," he says.
PLANT COMBINATIONS
There are four key components to choosing plant combinations, Gallatin says: size, scale, color and texture.
First, a word about size and scale: Don't put tiny plants like miniature mums or pansies in an 18-gallon container.
"They'll get swallowed up," Gallatin says. "You have to keep in mind the scale of the plant and container."
Try to use complimentary colors, such as pinks, purples and whites. Orange and pink blooms clash.
A good combination is tall rosemary with a trailing plant such as variegated ivy and something bushy like pansies or nasturtiums.
This is also a good mix of leaf texture -- spiny leafs on rosemary, heart shapes on ivy and the round petals of a pansy.
A good tip when strolling the nursery is to find one plant that grabs you.
"Make it the focal point of your arrangement and then build around it," he says.
KEEP DESIGN IN MIND
Plant in odd numbers, like groups of three and nine.
"When you start getting into the teens, be careful," he says. "Things can start to look busy."
Always start planting from the back to the front, keeping taller plants in the back. To soften the edges of a container, plant trailing vines like ivy and sweet potato vine along the sides.
"It makes things look kind of loose and airy," he says.
For a stair-step look, think about combining small, medium and large containers in a group.
"You can have them work together for a color that's packed together," he says.
MIX AND MATCH
To create good combinations, pick plants from each of these categories and put them together in a container.
UEvergreen herbs like parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. Sage is available in a variety of colors.
UPansies, snaps and nasturtiums. The petals of pansies and nasturtiums are edible and make nice garnish on winter salads.
UOrnamental kale. The bright lights variety comes in yellow, pink and orange.
UEnglish and variegated ivies are great for trailing over the sides of a container.
UWinter rye grows fast once it germinates and makes a great companion plant for forced bulbs, like paperwhites, daffodils and amaryllis.