Outdoor Living Space Planting Advice for the Carolinas

Outdoor Living Space Planting Advicefor the Carolinas

With the wonderful climates here in the Carolinas (minus the heat wave we’ve been subject to recently!), we get to spend a lot of time entertaining and enjoying our outdoor living spaces. That being said, there is no reason for your planters to sit bare during the fall and winter months. Many of us simply leave our planters bare because the thought of maintaining that “inviting” look at all times can be a little overwhelming. Believe me, I get it. But fear not! There are easy, low-maintenance steps you can take to keep your planters looking great all year-round.

One simple way to achieve this in your outdoor living space is to make your planters for “all seasons” by placing evergreens in them. This can be done by planting a dwarf Leland Cyprus, boxwood or similar type shrub in your container. While these types of shrubs don’t require a lot of pampering, you will need to devote some time to maintaining their shape and should consult someone who works at a nursery about which shrubs survive best under colder temperatures (because, believe it or not, we do actually get snow in the Carolinas!). To spice things up, I always add juniper to accent my planter. When doing the planting, don’t worry about centering the plants within the planter. Just make sure that it works for the area or where the pot is placed for the heights, etc.

Here are some other planting tips I’ve picked up over the years:

• Seasonal Choices: Be really careful to leave some room to plant some annuals if you so choose to freshen the container up in the spring (annuals) or in the fall (small mums, pansies or even a few small pumpkins).

• Texture and Color: The Dusty Miller plant is a very common plant found in your garden center. This is a silvery/white colored plant that has a feathery texture to its leaves. It will last all year and all that is needed to maintain a healthy look is a little pruning. This filler will add some color and texture to your container.

• Use with Caution: A common accent plant that I often go with is ivy. But be really careful because, although it’s a beautiful filler plant and an evergreen, it will rob your other plants of water very quickly. If you go with ivy make sure that you use it sparingly so that your other plants can grow and flourish.

• Water Regularly: One important tip (one that I’ve had to learn the hard way) is that, no matter the season, if your shrubs or planters are under a porch or shelter you have to water regularly.

• The Final Touch: For the polished off look add a small layer of mulch, Spanish moss or similar material. This will help make the planter look finished and will also help hold moisture.