Substance, Style and Size
Use the substance in your home’s design and add your own style, says Patty Gregor, owner of Gregor Farm & Greenhouse in Wayzata. “The main thing is figuring out your own style and what works well with the home’s exterior,” says Gregor, who has been in the greenhouse business for 30 years. “Pull in colors from your front door or the trim to tie everything together.”
It’s important to complement your home’s design, Gregor says, whether it’s rustic or contemporary, a bright color or more natural tones. Size and proportion are also keys. She recommends your display to be about one-third of the size and width of the door. “That is a good starting point,” she says.
To add height to the pots, Gregor suggests twigs, trellises or an obelisk. “Anything to give it additional height is always interesting,” she says. “You can also add edibles like climbing beans. They are fun to explore.”
Stroll Before You Stoop
Before you focus on the stoop, stroll down to the curb, says Cathy Lingo, co-owner (with her husband, Tom) of The Garden Patch in Excelsior. “You need to see the boldness you will need once you do it,” says Lingo, calling on her 33 years of experience.
The second pre-planting point is to know how much sun your front steps receive and plant accordingly. If the stoop receives more than six hours of sun a day, it’s good for plants that like a lot of sun. If it’s less sun than that, you will need flowers and plants that can live in shadier spots.
“Look at how much light you have, so when you put something out there, it’s going to look nice and thrive,” Lingo says.
Another important consideration is timing. Do you need the curb appeal right away in May or can you wait until late June? If you can wait, you can plant your own. If not, you will need to buy more mature plants. “Another key is bulk, color and lots of it, while watching your timing,” Lingo says.
The Garden Patch strives to have a welcoming roadside display, just like your home should, Lingo says. “You want to have someone say, ‘Wow. I want to stop there,” she says.
One, Two, Three
For Jessie Jacobson at Tonkadale Greenhouse in Minnetonka, it’s a matter of one, two, three:
- Use big, bold colors. Draw the eye to your curb.
- Pick good pots. Glazed pottery is in.
- Keep it simple. Pick three elements that are your style.
For color, consider going with orange or yellow petunias, lantana or caliente geraniums. “They bloom all summer long,” Jacobson says, showing her fresh view from seven years at the greenhouse.
On pots, it’s vital to have a drainage hole. Beyond that, the popular style is a tall vase-like pot, Jacobson says. Also, it’s better to go bigger. “You might want to buy a 10-inch pot that looks big, but on the step it won’t, so go up a couple sizes,” she says.
For simplicity, go with two pots instead of, say, six, and place a pot on each side of the steps or one high and one low on the same side of the steps. “You don’t have to follow that exactly,” she says. As with most things in life, “there are many ways to approach it,” Jacobson says.
RESOURCES
Gregor Farm & Greenhouse, 2592 Holy Name Dr., Wayzata; 763.478.9832
The Garden Patch, 23443 Cty. Rd. 19, Excelsior; 952.474.1551
Tonkadale Greenhouse, 3739 Tonkawood Rd., Minnetonka; 952.938.6480
