Designing the Layout
Before planting the container, consider where it
will be placed and which direction it will "face" the
outdoor living space. This will enable you to put
taller growing plants toward the back and shorter,
vining plants to the front. The horticulture industry
identifies container gardening plants as either a
"thriller, filler or spiller."
Window Box Container Garden with
Thriller, Filler & Spiller
If the container can be seen from 3-4 sides,
it is recommend to put the thriller in the
center of the pot and adding filler plants
around it. Follow by adding spillers around
the container's edge.
If the container is only seen from 1-2 sides,
plant the thriller toward the back with the
filler in front of it, followed by the spiller
along the container's edge. The same
principle can apply for planting a vegetable
container. Tomatoes and peppers are ideal
for thrillers. While herbs, lettuce and on-
ions make great fillers and cucumbers and
squash are vining spillers.
Thrillers
• Thrillers are plants with height that add
drama and a vertical element to the com-
bination
• Thrillers are generally put either in the
center or at the back of the container
Fillers
• Fillers tend to be more rounded or
mounded plants and make the container
look full
• Fillers are generally placed in front of, or
around, the Thriller variety
Spillers
• Spillers are trailing plants that hang over
the edge of the planter
• Spillers are placed close to the edge of
the container
Watch a How-To Thriller, Filler, Spiller
Video On Youtube
