Kaleb Wyse’s Simple Formula for Beautiful Seasonal Containers
Kaleb Wyse of Wyse Guide is refreshing the containers around his home for the season, from welcoming porch planters to decorative pots throughout the landscape. His approach is simple but impactful: choose plants that thrive in the same growing conditions, create bold statements with mass plantings or complementary pairings, and build lasting seasonal interest through texture and structure. Every container starts with Espoma Organic All-Purpose Potting Mix giving plants the organic foundation they need for healthy growth.
Watch the full video here:
Here are 6 container gardening tips from Kaleb:
1. Keep Containers Simple with Mass Plantings
Instead of filling every container with several different plants, Kaleb often relies on a single variety planted en masse. One of his favorite examples is Karalee Petite Pink Gaura, which fills the entire container with airy blooms that flower continuously throughout the season. The result feels intentional, elegant, and allows the plant to make a much stronger visual statement than a mixed planting.
2. Build Around a Strong Structural Plant
For containers that will stay attractive all season, Kaleb likes starting with something architectural. An heirloom agave becomes the focal point of one planter, while a low-growing chartreuse sedum softens the edges and highlights the agave’s striking form. Rather than competing with bold flowers, the combination lets contrasting textures create the visual interest.
3. Pair Plants that Want the Same Growing Conditions
One of Kaleb’s guiding principles is choosing plants that naturally belong together. Before selecting plants, consider where the container will live and match varieties that enjoy the same amount of sunlight and moisture. Pairing drought-tolerant plants like agave and sedum means the container requires less maintenance, while flowering annuals are grouped with plants that appreciate more consistent moisture.
4. Start Every Container with Quality Potting Mix
Every container in Kaleb’s garden begins with All-Purpose Potting Mix. The organic mix provides excellent drainage while holding the moisture plants need, making it suitable for everything from annual flowers and tropical ferns to succulents and architectural plants. When filling containers, Kaleb leaves enough room below the rim for watering while accounting for the slight settling that naturally occurs over time.
Later in the season, he plans to supplement flowering containers with Espoma Organic Bloom! Liquid Plant Food to keep blooms looking their best.
5. Match Ferns to Their Location
Not every porch receives the same amount of sunlight, and Kaleb chooses his ferns accordingly. The shaded portion of his covered porch is home to lush variegated Boston ferns displayed in beautiful antique urns, while the brighter front edge of the porch features Kimberly Queen ferns, which tolerate more sun. Selecting the right fern for each location creates healthier plants and reduces maintenance throughout the summer.
6. Let Texture Create Season-Long Interest
Rather than relying solely on colorful blooms, Kaleb designs containers that remain attractive from spring through fall by combining contrasting foliage, strong plant forms, and complementary textures. Whether it’s the airy movement of gaura, the bold shape of agave, the soft mounds of sedum, or the graceful fronds of ferns, each planting contributes lasting beauty without feeling overly busy.
You Can Do It!
Beautiful containers don’t have to be complicated. By choosing plants with similar care requirements, using mass plantings or simple pairings, and focusing on texture as much as flowers, you can create containers that look polished from the beginning of the season through fall. Start with Espoma Organic All-Purpose Potting Mix to give your plants the foundation they need, and feed flowering containers with Espoma Organic Bloom! Liquid Plant Food as the season progresses.
Ready to refresh your own containers? Watch Kaleb’s full video for even more inspiration, and discover more organic gardening tips and products at Espoma.com.
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