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Gardening tips for Duluth's Northern climate, hosted by Master Gardener Tom Kasper.

Tips for Hardy Gardeners: Thrill, Fill, and Spill

Daryl Mitchell [via Flickr, commercial use allowed]

Tom Kasper offers this idea for making our plant containers look their best. In terms of contents, start with the simple rule, "Thrill, fill, and spill."

  • Thrill - A plant that is the centerpiece or goes in the back of the container, perhapw a tall flower, or ornamental grass.
  • Fill - What surrounds the "thriller," perhaps geraniums, petunias, snapdragons, or osteospermum.
  • Spill - the perimeter plants that can spill over the side of the container, often a vine.

Watering is important, Tom reminds us, but so is regular feeding; as a contained ecosystem, these plants need our help to receive nutrients. Deadheading old flowers can further make room for and direct growing energy toward new blooms.

Chris Harwood is The North 1033’s Production Director and (acting) Program Director, a morning/daytime host, and the host of Soul Village. He is also a musician, a music historian, an audio engineer, and an avid record collector.