This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for… Spring container planting! All through the long winter months, we eagerly await signs of Spring; however, the wait is now over! Garden centers are packed with their favorite cold tolerant annuals… perfect for your Spring container garden!  Not only can containers bring an early burst of Spring to your front entryway, deck, patio, or porch, but you can get creative and expressive with stunning flower choices for every container.

Why Containers? Why Now?

Planting in containers like pots, urns, barrels, and window boxes can extend the growing season and help you refresh your gardening skills before the big rush of Spring garden chores. Containers are also less dependent on weather conditions and can easily be moved to warmer and sunnier spots even on chilly days. Spring containers can even be brought indoors to a porch, sunroom, or garage if a hard frost threatens, and your early Spring gardening doesn’t need to be in danger. Containers are easy to care for and can brighten up any part of your yard, even before Mother Nature gets growing again.

Favorite Cold Tolerant Spring Annuals

With limited space in containers, you’ll want to choose the very best Spring flowers for brilliant color and thriving growth. Spring can be a temperamental season and may still have fluctuating temperatures and uneven moisture, so it is smart to choose flowers that can tolerate these conditions.

• Alyssum
• Bachelor’s Button
• Calendula
• Calibrachoa
• Dianthus
• Diascia
• English Daisy
• Lobelia
• Nemesia
• Osteospermum
• Pansy
• Petunia
• Primrose
• Snapdragon
• Stock
• Sweet Pea

Tips for Spring Containers

No matter what flowering annuals you choose for Spring container planting, they need the best care to thrive through this often-temperamental season.

Be sure to select a premium quality potting soil for your containers! We recommend Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Potting Soil [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region]. This product is an exclusive blend of high quality natural and organic ingredients that are perfectly balanced for pH, water holding capabilities, and drainage. Choosing and using Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Potting Soil will save you time and money, reducing both your water and fertilizer needs.

Fertilize your container at planting time to promote the best growth and vibrant blooms. We highly recommend Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Rose and Flower Food. This natural and organic plant food boasts an NPK of 4 – 6 – 2 to promote healthy plants and lots of flowers! It is blended with beneficial soil microbes, including mycorrhizal fungi to promote long, strong roots.

Take care not to overwater containers; balance your watering regimen with Mother Nature’s Spring rains. Pots should have good drainage to be sure excess water can easily flow away from the root zone. Placing pots on casters or stands can also help improve drainage and be sure the pots are not sitting in Spring puddles.

To help your Spring containers last as long as possible, deadhead the flowers regularly with sharp, thin pruning snips. This will keep the pots tidy and encourage reblooming for a longer flowering season, letting you enjoy every Spring bloom well into the season.