Garden in containers

A potted herb garden by the kitchen window.

Start by figuring out your preferred garden style.

Are you drawn to a rugged cottage style where plants are crowded together in an informal, seemingly haphazard way? Or do you prefer tidy mounds of individual plants separated by decorative mulch?

Once you have figured out your style, choose containers and plants that go with it. You can play with form, texture and proportion and use them to add depth and interest to your container arrangement.

Colour is the most fun to play with when it comes to arranging containers.

For bold, vibrant looks, choose complementary colours (on opposite sides of the colour wheel), such as yellow and violet.

For more subtle combinations, choose harmonious blends of related colours such as blue, violet and purple.