Proper plans needed for potted plants

All white flowers with lots of green foliage will brighten up a shady corner.

To create a beautiful container garden, landscape designer Jan Johnsen recommends using plants with contrasting leaf textures and varying growth habits.

She suggests three different kinds of plants to a pot, including a tall element in the middle like a tree and a trailing plant over the edge to droop over the sides. Or try the no-fail method of sticking to one kind of plant, like impatiens or straw flower.

Color is also key: A pot can be filled with soft, romantic colors like pink and lavender, or bold hues like red and purple. Johnsen says an eye-catching combination is a pot of primary colors red, blue and yellow. Or a monochromatic look, such as all white flowers with lots of green foliage, will brighten up a shady corner.