EFFECT:

All the thought you’ve put into your pot-plans will pay off now. What are you really going for with these additions to your garden? As my florist neighbor, Sears says, “You want a thriller, a filler, and a spiller.” Something tall and unusual (the thriller), with lower and lush begonias or annuals to fill the planter, and some ivy or Creeping Jenny to spill over the pots’ edge, softening the effect.

Drama: My front porch is small and simple. I might want to add a tall pot with a few shade-tolerant plants for a memorable “welcome.” Or perhaps your patio needs some “zing.” A cluster of red and orange pots of varying sizes, filled with bright marigolds and stately yucca might be just the ticket.

Lushness: There always seems to be an uncooperative place in the garden that refuses to nurture the plants placed there, no matter how you look after them. By adding a few containers of varying sizes and material, you can disguise this “dead zone” as a lush and welcoming spot.