Best Plants for Your Deck and Patio Planters

    PHILADELPHIA, PA, June 21, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Decorating with outdoor plants is a great way to introduce visual interest and add a personal, creative touch to your patio or deck. The variety of shapes, the range of color, and the natural textures of living elements make your design choices as unique as they are limitless.

Using Containers

Container planters, available in a wide variety of styles, shapes and sizes, offer you a wide range of design versatility. Choose containers that will complement the landscaping design style of your outside space and will enhance the design features of your deck or patio.

Think about using eco-friendly, all natural coco liners. They make great container liners, particularly for wire and metal planters, stands and hanging baskets. They keep soil in and aid in keeping it moist.

In addition, coco is naturally resistant to insects, bacteria, fungi, mold and diseases. Known for their excellent drainage and aeration properties, coco liners promote visibly better, faster plant growth by rehydrating easily while preventing root rot.

If it's aesthetics you're after, you'll find the rich, natural color of coconut fiber complements the beauty of any plant. For a different look, porous coco liners also let you grow trailing plants so they emerge from the liner through the sides of the decorative basket.

If you're decorating a deck or balcony, there are coco-lined planters specifically made to adorn as fitted rail planters, hanging horse trough styles and baskets made specifically to fit corners and posts.

You can also use your coco liners with decorative pots made from clay, terra cotta, ceramic or plastic.

Add Height

When considering your design plan, create visual interest by varying the heights of your greenery. You can mix floor planters with plant stands in an assortment of heights and styles. Add hanging plant varieties like spider plants and ferns alternating with flowering varieties to add color and contrast. Plants can even be suspended upside down for a unique and eye-pleasing display by using coco-lined planters. Potted trees such as the ficus and palm also are great for adding height and drama to the space.

An ideal way to grow "up" is a modular vertical planting system that utilizes stacking planter boxes for flowers and foliage. These versatile modular units come in varying heights and widths and can be configured to create screens of living plants to add privacy to decks, patios and even to apartment and condo balconies. Whether on a spacious deck or a small balcony, a vertical planting system adds the life and color of plants to your living space without taking up floor space.

Another aspect of "growing up" is climbing plants which can serve a variety of uses. Use climbing plants with trellises, arbors, obelisks and other supports around your space to create privacy screens and block unwanted and unsightly views. Climbing plants grow quickly so they offer an almost instant solution depending on your need and your desired effect.

Climbing plants add character and soften the appearance of your home and garden while creating a beautiful and unique touch that's all your own. Plant shrubs and flowers at the base to extend screening space from side-to-side. Well-anchored, sturdy metal stand-alone trellises, arbors and obelisks are recommended to support the weight of the plants.

Designing Plant-by-Plant

Choose flowers, plants and greenery that will complement the overall appearance of your home. For a stunning display, mix foliage plants with flowering plants and space the plants close to one another to create a full, lush appearance. Don't be afraid to pack them together. You'll achieve a much grander effect.

Colorful choices for your deck planters are Lantana, Hibiscus and Scaevola, along with continual favorites like petunias, sweet potato vine and geraniums. Mix in red verbena, orange marigold and yellow sunflowers for planters that will pop with color on your deck.

In addition to adding color to your deck, think about planting zinnias and verbena to attract butterflies to your deck. And adding a hummingbird feeder will also give you color and entertainment with butterflies and hummingbirds paying you a visit.

Avant Garden Decor is a premier brand of innovative outdoor living decor, including the CobraCo Brand. From stylish planters and baskets, to flower boxes, plant stands, and fire pits, the CobraCo Brand is the outdoor entertainer's choice for outdoor decor. Avant Garden Decor also offers Gardener's Blue Ribbon brand of garden helpers, such as garden stakes, accessories, and various plant saucers that meet the demands of both gardening hobbyists and enthusiasts alike.

Gardeners can contact Avant Garden Decor at www.avantgardendecor.com or 800-323-5800.

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