The weather has finally turned our thoughts and plans to the activities of spring! One of those activities might include container gardening … perhaps a few visually-dynamic planters by the front entryway or driveway entrance. But how does one go about creating such planters rather than spending the money to have them done by a nursery or garden center?

The principles of attractive containers as the “Thriller–Filler–Spiller” method is attributed to Steve Silk in a 1997 article in “Fine Gardening” magazine. The article not only outlined the definition of each category but provided some suggestions for specific plants to use. In selecting plants for each category, it’s important to balance colors and textures for the best outcome as well as light requirements, shade versus sun.

The Thriller as a centerpiece plant that is big, bold and eye catching. This is the tallest plant in the pot and is planted in the center. It’s the focal point of the container and normally has an upright growing habit. Thrillers frequently exhibit colorful foliage, unique shape or bold, dramatic flowers. Select a plant that is attractive from all sides of the container. It’s preferable to begin building your container with this category of plant.

The Filler category was defined as foliage or flowering plants that would complement but not overpower your chosen thriller selection. Fillers add mass to the planter and frequently display a mounding growing habit. They’re usually finer textured than the Thriller and surround and weave in and out of the leaves of your selected Thriller selection. In many cases, these Filler plants can cover the less attractive bottom area of your Thriller. Don’t skimp on the number of Filler plants you place around the center plant, think bountiful! Annuals or tender perennials are a good choice. Keep scale in mind, fillers work best if they are 1/3 to 2/3 the size of the Thriller.

And lastly, the Spiller is a plant with a trailing growing habit that literally tumbles out of the pot. Just a few of these plants located at the very outer edges of your container soften the overall look of the container garden you’re creating. Let them sprawl over the edge and perhaps trail up into the Fillers and foliage of Thriller. Silk points out in his article that when the spiller actually touches the ground, it visually anchors the entire pot for a better overall effect. Spillers can echo or contrast in shape, color or texture, the other “members” of your container.

What are some of the plants that fall into each category here in our geographic area in this season?

• Thrillers: Fountain Grasses, Agaves, Cannas
• Fillers: Begonias, Coleus, Dusty Miller, Heliotrope
• Spillers: Sweet Potato Vines, Nasturtiums, Callirhoe, Creeping Jenny, Alternantheras

Many nursery websites categorize annuals and perennials in Thriller, Filler and Spiller categories, and there is no lack of information on the Web on this topic. So start searching or just look around your local garden center for ideas and get potting for spectacular containers!

This column was contributed by Cheryl Kornegay, Certified Master Gardener volunteer.

The information for this column is given courtesy of the Extension Master Gardeners who are volunteers under the direction of the Beaufort County Cooperative Extension. They are available to answer your questions concerning lawns, vegetables, trees, ornamentals, fruits, plant problems and diseases, pests, soil and many other horticulture issues relating to gardening in North Carolina. You can contact a Master Gardener with questions by leaving a voice mail at 252-946-0111 or email the Master Gardener at beaufortcomg@gmail.com and a volunteer will respond to you inquiries.

The Beaufort County Extension Master Gardeners volunteers will have their annual plant sale on April 29, at the Extension Center, 155 Airport Road in Washington from 9 a.m. to noon.

 

Gardening Calendar-April

Lawn Care

Warm season grasses like Bermuda and centipede can be seeded or sprigged.

 

Fertilizing

Early blooming flowers like forsythia and evergreens like holly can still be fertilized.

Rhododendrons, azaleas, and other late bloomers should be fertilized as soon as their flowers fade.

Fruit trees can be fertilized now especially if there are going to bare much fruit. A good rule of thumb is to use one pound of 10-10-10 for each year of tree age. It’s best to apply half in late winter and the remainder in May. Don’t apply the remaining fertilizer if the crop is killed by frost.

 

Planting

Azaleas can be planted this month while they are flowering. Some gardeners do this so they can better arrange the different colors.

Annual flowers can be planted. Examples would be: ageratum, begonia, celosia, dwarf dahlia, dusty miller, geranium, marigold, petunia, portulace, salvia, snapdragon and annual vinca.

Gladioli bulbs can be planted now and continue till mid-June.

Plant beans, beets, cantaloupe, corn, Chinese cage, cucumbers, pumpkin, squash, Swiss chard and watermelon later this month.

 

Propagation

Shrubs can be layered by lowering one of the branches to the ground and covering it with soil. Use a rock to hold the branch down till it takes root.

 

Pruning

Faded April bloomers like azaleas can be pruned as soon as the flowers fade.

Berry producing plants like holly and pyracantha should be pruned while they are flowering this month.

 

Spraying

Watch shrubs for lace bugs on azaleas, leaf miners on boxwoods, tea scale on camellias, scale on euonymus, spider mites and hybrid rhododendron borers.

Spray iris beds for iris borers.

Spray squash plants for squash borers.

Begin weekly sprayings of fruit trees as soon as the flowers fall off.

Continue with rose spraying program.

Always follow the label and don’t spray insecticides unless damage causing insects are seen.

 

Other Activities

Mulch landscape plants to keep weeds from growing and to conserve water.

Keep records of what was planted and when chemicals were sprayed