As any first year journalism major can attest, The 5 W’s establish a formula for getting the complete story on any subject. According to the principle of the Five W’s (and one H), a story can only be considered complete if it answers these questions starting with one of these interrogative words. The key to a successful story is answering the reader’s questions of who, what, where, when, why, and how.
Take side planting, for example. Can this unique and satisfying gardening method be revealed completely using the five W’s and one H? Let’s find out:
What is side planting?
Side Planting is a method of establishing plants so that they grow out of the side of the garden containers they are planted in. Side planted containers allow planting in the side as well as the top of the container. Containers are fast and easy to plant and result in instant flower balls that form spectacular accents.
Because the plants are literally planted sideways, not all plants flourish in side planting. The best tried and tested plants for side planting are:
- Wax begonias
- Coleus
- Impatiens
- Trailing torenia.
- Dragon wing begonias
- Pansies and violas
- Lamium
- Scaevola
Where are the plants placed?
There are four container types for side planting. All feature sturdy steel frames, holding replaceable coco-fiber liners with pre-cut holes in their sides for easy side planting. Containers include:
- Hanging planter – Basic Basket Planters in various sizes are constructed from heavy gauge steel wire coated in black plastic and are supplied with removable clip-on chains.
- Wall Planters – Wall Planters with attached liners for use on Walls, Fences, Porch and Deck Railings. Constructed from heavy gauge steel wire coated in black plastic, our side planted wall planters can transform any empty wall.
- Border Column – Border columns allow hanging baskets to be displayed in gardens or on patios without hanging them from a preexisting structure. These include 18″ ground spike, 9″ diameter steel disk and choice of 30″, 36″, 42″ or 48″ height column.
- Window Box – Beautify windows, walls and railings using Window Box Planters. Choose from four sizes to best fit your space requirements.
When can side planting be done?
Since the plants that seem to respond best to side planting like warm weather, do not expose side plants to cold weather. Refer to the care instructions of the plants that you are using in your display when deciding when it is safe to move plants outdoors.
As soon as the last frosts have occurred in your area, it’s time to select flowers and foliage for side planting from your local garden center. For some tips about side planting, many tried and tested planting ‘recipes’ by Pamela Crawford are available so you’ll know the best varieties to choose.
Who invented side planting?
Pamela Crawford is a garden designer and author who invented the containers and specially designed coco-liners in 2006—after years of trials and testing to find out which varieties best adapt to side planting conditions. Anyone can enjoy side planting! It’s fun and easy. You can see some beautiful examples of side planting from amateur home gardeners here. You’ll also be able to read comments from gardeners all over the country
Why side plant?
Side planting lets you create instant container gardens, turning your outside living areas into a colorful oasis of flowers and foliage—even if you don’t have much space. Porches, patios, pool sides and decks can all be enhanced by side planting. Side planting is not the mainstream of gardening, rather, is another way to add beautiful flowers to your home, particularly if you don’t have the gardening space. Whether secured to wall, displayed on a post or column, attached to a window, or flowing from a hanging basket,
For more information, check out the side planting products available from Kinsman Company.
How is side planting done?
Let Pamela Crawford show you how! You will find 6 different how-to videos that will show you how easy it is to start side planting. Pamela Crawford’s exclusive side planting containers feature side planting holes, so you can create beautiful flower baskets instantly. Display them on Kinsman’s Border Columns or Basket Columns. You can get started side planting today!