IN SEASON
STORY AND PHOTO LINDSAY OWENS
It ' s tempting to overstuff your pots to make them Pinterestworthy, but giving them growing room provides best results.
Tips for picking the best plants for your garden
Picking plants for your garden or flower pots can be overwhelming, especially if you aren’ t sure what you need or want.
Here are a few things to consider before heading to your local greenhouse or garden center …
What zone am I in? Our portion of Southern Indiana is currently zone 6b, where we have an average winter temperature somewhere between-5 to 0 degrees. Be sure to check all plant tags to be sure the plants you are interested are for your zone. I’ ve noticed a lot of plants at big-box stores in the perennial section that are not hardy for our area. That can be a costly mistake that can set you up for failure from the get-go.
What type of light does my spot get? Consider the direction your planting spot faces, trees and other structures that may shade areas. Sometimes that light changes. Maybe trees or large bushes were removed or trimmed, so your once shady area that was perfect for shade-lovers now gets too much sun. It could also be that trees and shrubs have grown and now provide more shade than your full-sun plants can handle. Full-sun plants require 6 to 8 hours of direct light for best results. Partialsun plants typically prefer morning sun and afternoon shade. There are some exceptions.
How much time do you have to care for plants? While it would be nice to work in the garden all day, we know that’ s not realistic for everyone. Some plants are a bit fussy( I am looking at you, tropical hibiscus that I adore). Some require constant fertilizing. Some require a lot of pest control and some may require picking off or deadheading the blooms.
Do not over-stuff your pots. I get it. We will want that Pinterest-perfect look; what we see in magazines and on TV is often overstuffed to make it look mature. Overstuffing, though, makes it hard to water and maintain the plants for the whole growing season. Let your plants fill in naturally. It does take time, but it’ s totally worth the wait.
Think filler, spiller, thriller for pots. Thrillers are typically the tallest plant, spillers fall over the sides and fillers fill in the gaps in pots. This combination works best with pots that are a minimum of 10-12 inches in diameter.
Do you over- or under-water? Take out that guesswork by using moisture crystals to store water to hydrate your plants when they need it most. These can be purchased online. Just add some soil, then your crystals, and more soil before adding your plants.
16 | SPRING & SUMMER 2026 6 INSIDE KNOX & DAVIESS COUNTIES