When talking about design, you've heard it said that rules are meant to be broken. But planting is a different story. According to one expert, garden shop owner Barney Bryant with B.B. Barns in Asheville, North Carolina, successful container gardens are those put together by following a few simple rules.

The Pot
"I'm really picky about drainage," Barney says. "I insist each pot have a 3/4-inch-diameter hole." To keep that drain free-flowing, add a shallow layer of foam peanuts to the bottom.

When selecting pots, think big. "If I were to choose one size pot for successful container gardening, it would be 18 x 18 inches. From there, I would only go larger," Barney says. Small containers dry out quickly.

The Soil
"Potting soil is so important. If you don't use the proper mix, you're going to have problems," Barney warns. How do you know what good soil is? Try this B.B. Barns recommendation: Pick up a handful of potting soil, and hold it tight. When released, it should fall apart quickly. If not, there's too much sphagnum peat moss in the mix.

Moisten the mix prior to putting it in the container. Barney also suggests, "Hose down clay pots before planting. If you don't, the dry pot absorbs the moisture in the potting mix."

Placing Plants
Decide how the container is to be viewed--either against a wall, where it will have a flat side, or out in the open where it will be seen from all sides. Position the tallest plant as the focal point, to the pot's back if the arrangement is three-sided or in the middle if it is a circular situation.

Treat the rest of the arrangement like stairsteps. Place medium-size plants close to the tall focal point, and set trailing ones close to the container's edges. Once everything is in place, surround the roots with additional moist potting soil.

Water and Feed
As summer's heat increases, so must the availability of moisture. When plants mature and pots fill with roots, the daily water regimen must increase. "If your lifestyle makes frequent watering a problem, consider a drip irrigation system to maintain plants," he says. (See "Water Wisely" on page 104 of the March 2003 issue of Southern Living.)

Feeding your container garden is an essential part of its success. When planting, mix granular timed-release fertilizer with the soil. Choose a balanced mix such as 14-14-14, or increase bloom power with an 11-40-6 blend. "We also tell our customers to water with a liquid blossom-boosting fertilizer, such as 15-30-15, every two weeks. You must do both to keep containers in top condition," Barney recommends.

Hanging baskets are an easy way to draw the eye up and add a distinctive vertical dimension. For exciting container ideas, read "Hang Around With Color" on page 102 of the March 2003 issue of Southern Living.