A great landscape design requires so much more than just flat ground. In fact, creating a multi-layered landscape with the help of designer planters can improve both the look and the health of your plants overall. If you want to create a world-class garden outside of your business or home, planters are the easiest way to add dimension and get creative. Here are a few hints from the experts to help you plan your garden accordingly.
Why Layer?
The first thing you need to know is why layering your plants is so important. There are many reasons, but the one we think of first is always aesthetic. Different plants grow at different rates, and they reach different heights, not to mention the fact that each plant will bloom at a different point in the season, sometimes only for a couple of weeks. If your plants are not properly layered, the end result is a garden that looks patchy as your plants mature and then fall back until next season.
Another important reason for layering is shared resources. Yes, plants need space to thrive, but they don’t all need the same things from the soil. In addition, some plants are happy to live beneath the shade of nearby neighbors. By layering your plants, you can ensure that the soil is staying healthy and balanced by allowing the plants to exchange nutrients with one another throughout the year. This works even if you have planters because plant matter can be transferred between the planters and mixed in for added effect.
Planning Your Layers
The simplest way to plan a multi-layered landscape is to start by selecting a handful of large planters that you like. Depending on your tastes, you can go with planter sets that come in various sizes, such as our Rio Grande series, and arrange them together to create your visual tiers, or you can purchase a planter that already has multiple layers cut into the sides, so all you have to do is place your plants. Your decision will likely depend on the type of plants you envision using. Larger plants tend to do better in individual planters, while smaller plants do well in some of the side-pocket planters.
Remember, your landscape design doesn’t stop at the planter’s edge. If you are placing your planters outdoors, it is a good idea to add small plants or shrubs around the base of your planters as well, which will mask any unsightly drainage and help blend the planter into the rest of your landscape. Even decorative grass can achieve this without requiring too much extra work. Alternatively, decorative rocks or other materials may be used to create a smooth transition.
Mimicking Nature
Even if you don’t know much about plants yourself, it is still simple to envision a multi-layered landscape design simply by mimicking nature itself. For instance, you know that natural landscapes like forests are made of up layers. A quick search will show you that you can plant large bushes or shrubs in the center of your planter, and then work outward to add vines, flowers, and ground cover in a way that closely matches how those plants would grow on their own. This will also mean less maintenance for you because the plants will already know what to do!
Multi-layered landscaping is the ultimate way to fend off cheap-looking landscape design. By layering things together, you can help all of your plants grow well while making a bold statement about your aesthetic taste. The best part is that you don’t have to be a garden expert to understand how layering works with outdoor planters designed specifically for this task. To learn more, visit Jay Scotts today and check out our whole collection of outdoor planters.