Ceramic Pots

Container gardening is a great way to beautify your outdoor spaces and satisfy your desire to garden, even in a small space. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, mastering the art of container gardening can bring joy and bounty to any space. With a few tips and tricks, everyone can start container gardening for big impact, even on a small deck or patio.

Choose the Right Pots & Soil

Quality pots make a difference when it comes to outdoor gardening. It’s important to pick pots that are made to withstand our shifting seasons here in the Pacific Northwest. At Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce, we source quality pots and make them affordable through our Buy One, Get 2 Free Ceramic Pot deal that is offered year-round.

Out of the thousands of pots available at our stores, we know you’ll find a style that works for you. Start by picking pots with holes at the bottom so excess water can drain out. This prevents your plants from drowning. Then, use good potting soil – not soil from your yard. It has the right blend of nutrients and drainage to help your plants grow well.

Find a Winning Combo: Spiller, Thriller, Filler

A great rule of thumb for creating a visually stunning container garden is to follow the spiller, thriller, filler design principle. Choose one standout plant that is fairly upright in form–the thriller– to serve as the focal point of your arrangement, then complement it with trailing plants–the spillers–to add depth and dimension. Finally, fill in any gaps with smaller, complementary plants–the fillers–to create a cohesive and balanced look. Need some suggestions? Ask our knowledgeable staff and peruse garden websites for ideas on how to use this trio when container gardening for big impact.

Seeds, Starts, & Potted Plants

Seasoned gardeners know that the best bang for your buck comes from growing plants from seed. Some plants are notoriously easy to grow from seed and happily reseed themselves around your garden. Sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias, and calendula are great flowers for first time seed sowers to try. However, not everyone has the time and energy needed to tend to new seedlings, and this is where starts and potted plants make the most sense. 

Don’t shy away from plant starts. They may seem tiny, but they have had plenty of time to establish root systems and store up energy in their small pots and will take off growing in size and bulk when added to good soil in your container.

Larger potted plants are great for adding to the center of your pot for instant impact. Use these as that central “thriller” and either seed or smaller starts around the outer edges of your pot. 

Layering Bulbs for Long Lasting Displays

For continuous color throughout the growing season, consider layering bulbs in your containers. It takes some strategic planting, but the reward is a kaleidoscope of colors from summer through fall.

Bulb options for Spring Planting: anemones, begonias, calla lilies, caladiums, cannas, crocosmia, dahlias, elephant ears, freesia, gladiolus, lilies, ranunculus, and tuberoses.

Hanging Baskets & Pouches

Take your container gardening to new heights with hanging baskets and pouches. These versatile containers are perfect for adding vertical interest to your outdoor space, whether you’re hanging them from a pergola, balcony railing, or porch ceiling. Choose from our huge selection of sun and shade hanging baskets and pouches.

Long Lasting Cool Wave Pansy

Cool Wave pansies are the ultimate cool-season annual. Known for their exceptional hardiness and versatility, these resilient plants can even withstand freezing temperatures and bounce back with vigor once thawed. They are a great option for container gardening, because they will keep pushing out blooms with little effort from the gardener. Just be sure to keep them well-hydrated, especially during hot summer months, to ensure they thrive.

Container gardening offers endless possibilities for creativity and expression, allowing you to unleash your inner green thumb, regardless of space constraints. With our healthy plants, the right tools, and a good dose of creativity, you can create beautiful, thriving container gardens that will delight and inspire for seasons to come. So roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and let your imagination run wild – build your container garden for big impact!

What better way to welcome the spring season of renewal than by immersing yourselves in the vibrant colors of locally grown flowers and freshly cut blooms? Whether you’re adding a pop of color to your garden with new plants or arranging a bouquet of freshly picked flowers, there’s something magical about the colors of spring. Bring on the spring color with Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce locally grown flowers. 

Cineraria Plants: Hardy Beauties

As winter fades away, Cineraria plants, also known as Senetti, emerge as resilient symbols of spring’s arrival. These hardy plants are known for their ability to withstand unpredictable spring weather, enduring everything from pouring rain to gusty winds. Their vibrant blooms come in a dazzling array of colors ranging from electric blues to deep purples. Flowers will keep coming through the summer with a little deadheading of spent blooms. Whether planted in garden beds or showcased in containers on patios and balconies, Cineraria plants add a touch of exuberance to any outdoor space. Our locally grown flowers are well suited for our climate.

Local Tulips: Timeless Elegance

Few flowers symbolize spring quite like tulips, and our locally grown flowers are no exception. Whether displayed in pots or cut for indoor arrangements, local tulips exude timeless elegance and charm. Potted tulips, with their graceful stems and delicate petals, make enchanting focal points on porches and entryways. Meanwhile, freshly cut tulips bring a burst of color to your workspace or dining table, elevating any room with their natural beauty. Pair them with classic ceramic pots for a touch of romance that never goes out of style.

Cool Wave Pansies: Long-lasting Splendor

It’s hard to resist those adorable little faces! For those seeking a splash of color that lasts throughout the season, cool wave pansies are the perfect choice. These hardy annuals thrive in cooler temperatures, making them ideal for early spring planting. Whether cascading from hanging baskets or spilling over the edges of garden beds, cool wave pansies create stunning displays of long-lasting splendor. Pick up a few hanging pouches for your front porch or to adorn your fence posts. Pansies add the perfect touch of whimsy to every outdoor space. Follow a few simple tips to keep your pansies blooming through the season.

Daffodils: Bring in the Sunshine

Bring the beauty of the outdoors inside with cheerful, cut daffodils. A single bouquet will bring loads of cheer to your indoor spaces. Their bright yellow blooms symbolize hope and new beginnings, making them perfect for lifting spirits after the gray days of winter. Place potted daffodils on windowsills or tabletops to infuse your home with the freshness of spring. Daffodils add a touch of sunshine to any room. 

April Brings the Primrose Sweet

Primroses, with their delicate petals and vibrant colors, are a delightful addition to any garden or indoor space. These early spring bloomers thrive in cool spring weather, just like pansies, but are happy in shade, making them perfect for brightening up shady areas of the garden. Regular deadheading of spent blooms encourages continuous flowering throughout the season. With proper care, primroses will reward you with their charming blooms and cheerful presence year after year.

Succulents: Add Texture and Drama

Succulents, known for their dramatic forms and gorgeous greens, offer a striking contrast to the lush greenery of the Pacific Northwest landscape. While this region is renowned for its abundant rainfall, succulents can still thrive with the right care. In the Pacific Northwest, it’s essential to choose succulent varieties that are well-suited to the cooler, wetter climate. Opt for cold-hardy species such as sedum and hens-and-chicks, which are better equipped to withstand the occasional frost and damp conditions. When planting succulents in this region, ensure they’re placed in well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging. Position them in areas with ample sunlight for these sun loving plants. Pick up a shallow pot from our huge selection of ceramic pots and plant several species together for a dramatic effect. 

Don’t Forget the Soil! 

All gorgeous color has its start with the soil. Give your plants the nutrition they need with compost, fertilizer, mulch and more. We carry everything you need to keep your garden abundant. You can also get a head start on your vegetable garden by sowing seeds for cool weather crops such as lettuce, spinach, and kale or by picking up healthy veggie starts that are ready to plant out. These early plantings will give you a jumpstart on the season and ensure a bountiful harvest later throughout the spring, summer, and fall. 

Whether you’re tending to your gardens or arranging bouquets for your homes, take time to allow the colorful tapestry of spring flowers to lift your spirits. Stop by our stores today to find some inspiration and stock up on locally grown flowers and everything you need for gardening and flower arranging!

DIY gardening is a great way to get creative and have fun while making something beautiful. Just about everyone enjoys the sight of greenery and blooming flowers and plants. Whether it be throughout your front yard or right in the living room, plants are great decoration. Plus there are so many different ways to decorate with plants! If you want to do it yourself, you may not know where to start. But DIY gardening can be easy and enjoyable both indoors and outdoors. It just takes a little bit of learning and planning to make a beautiful garden.

DIY Gardening

If you want to get started with your own DIY gardening, you’ll need a couple things to get going. Tools like gloves, shears, small and large shovels, and rakes are essential. You’ll also need a watering can or hose with a nozzle. When you’re ready to start planting, Tacoma Boys has all the potting soil, pots, and plants you’ll need! This includes plants that are suitable indoors, outdoors, and both. Some plants are conventionally potted up and ready to go for your DIY gardening project. Or, you can choose your own pot to go with your plants. Some people go all out with their DIY gardening with yard decorations and a thought-out landscape design- But it can also be as easy and simple as you want it. If you want to go all out and completely refresh your outdoor space, you may want to consider the services such as those offered by professionals at Red Shovel Landscaping. This way you can make use of landscape design, grounds keeping, and lawn care to give your garden a new lease of life.

PNW Plants

Here in Washington, we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by abundant PNW plants. The Pacific Northwest is known for its beautiful greenery and forests. Everywhere you look is another evergreen or batch of climbing ivy! That’s why so many people like to decorate with PNW plants at home. There are an incredible number of different native plants that do great outdoors. Some of these plants can be transferred indoors, too. One example is sage, which thrives outdoors as well as indoors. Several kinds of outdoor plants do really well here and thrive year-round, while others grow tall and bloom seasonally.

Indoor Plants

When shopping for indoor plants at Tacoma Boys, there is a lot to choose from! You can even find the perfect trendy standing pot to go alongside. If you have pets, do a little research ahead of time to ensure the plants you purchase are nontoxic. Check out this list of nontoxic plants by the ASPCA if you have pets. In general, houseplants can be considered tropical, desert, trailing, flowering, and more. Some common houseplants you’ll see indoors or at Tacoma Boys include:

• Spider plants
• Succulents, cacti, and aloe vera
• Peace lily
• Snake plant
• Pothos
• Monstera
• Fiddle leaf fig

Outdoor Plants

Tacoma Boys offers a variety of plants suitable for your outdoor garden. In the summer, it’s easy to be drawn to flowering plants. Some of these are considered perennials and have blooms that die each winter. There are plenty of plants and foliage that do well outdoors year-round, though. Hanging baskets are great for outdoor plants because they’re beautiful and perfect for summer! For some tips on how to use hanging baskets, check out our blog all about it. Some common outdoor plants you’ll see around the Pacific Northwest or at Tacoma Boys include:

• Plantain lily
• Ferns
• Geranium
• White sage
• Begonias
• Dahlias

Gardening Tips and Tricks

If you’re just starting out, some basic gardening tips can be helpful in guiding you through the process. Anyone can grow plants and produce at home! It just takes a little learning and practice to care for a garden. These gardening tips and tricks might help you get started.

Start Slow

Resist the urge to plant dozens of different plants. Rather, start with just a couple. Take the time to care for the plants and grow your garden from there. This allows you to slow down and get to know your plants.

Keep Safe

If you have fuel for your lawnmower and strimmer, you’re going to need to keep it out of reach of children and pets. Similarly, if you have any fertilisers (try to stick to organic and peat-free) that you keep in the garden, these should also be kept safely. You can visit website for cabinets to store your dangerous goods in, helping to keep you and your family safe.

Know The Sun

It’s important to keep in mind that the sun and shade varies throughout your home and yard. Where one plant thrives, another may struggle. You should know how much direct and indirect sunlight shines in an area before you plant there.

Keep Tools Nearby

Try a gardening belt or grab a basket for your tools. It’s certainly easier to grab them from a handy spot nearby than take breaks to run to the shed for tools. This can help you remember to weed or prune when you spot something amiss in your garden, too.

Plant Conveniently

Plant your garden where you can easily access it. This makes it easy to water your plants regularly- and harvest when it’s time, too. While you’re at it, build an herb garden in your kitchen! The convenient location means you can grab fresh herbs whenever you’re cooking.

When you’re ready, start your DIY garden at Tacoma Boys! You’ll find all the potting soil, plants, and ceramic and concrete pots that you need to get started gardening. To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!

A home herb garden is a beautiful way to add aroma and flavor to your kitchen. It’s easy for any beginner or advanced gardener to get started growing a variety of herbs. Herb gardens are simply a group of live herbs growing in a container of soil. Usually, an herb garden is grown indoors so the freshest seasonings are right at your fingertips. Then you can grab some garnish for a ‘Gram-worthy plating or whip up homemade sauces quickly! 

Herb Gardens

An indoor herb garden is easy to care for because you can keep a close eye on it. It requires just a small amount of maintenance for a big, tasty payoff. Use whatever herbs you want! Common herbs to start your herb garden include basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, parsley, dill, and sage. These are used often to cook dishes in cuisines all over the world.

Herb gardens are a great way to save money and waste less, too. Purchasing packs of herbs in plastic packaging is a thing of the past! You can simply pick them fresh from your herb garden whenever you need a little extra something for your meal. A pretty kitchen and tasty food has never been so simple.

Starting an Herb Garden

Starting an herb garden is one of the easiest ways to add extra pizazz to your meals. It’s as easy as picking a sunny spot (like the kitchen windowsill) and selecting your favorite herbs. Avoid invasive herbs like mint, which grows abundantly like a weed. Pre-made kits make starting an herb garden quick, but it’s easy to put your own together with fresh starts or cuttings of plants. You can use herbs already planted in soil and just transplant them to your container of choice. Tacoma Boys offers a wide range of potting soil for your fresh herbs to grow in a raised bed or container.

If you’d rather take it outside or take things on the go, Tacoma Boys’ various ceramic pots are a beautiful option. Our guide on planting herbs in ceramic pots offers some great tips on choosing just the right pot.

How To Care For Herb Gardens

One reason starting an herb garden is so simple is because of the low maintenance required. It’s quite easy to care for your herb garden and doesn’t require extra materials. Some people may opt for plant food or fertilizer, but it’s not necessary. 

• Water the herbs once or twice a week, depending on what herbs are planted. To see if your herbs are thirsty, touch the first inch or so of the soil of the plant. If it feels dry, go ahead and gently water the roots.
• Harvest the herbs regularly as you cook and eat. Frequent harvesting is good! It encourages further growth of the plant. Go ahead and dry or freeze the fresh herbs if you won’t use them immediately. 
• Sun is important for your herb garden. Some herbs like more or less sunlight, but most will do well with an average of a few hours per day.
• Prune flowers when they pop up. It’s not necessary, but some herbs such as oregano and thyme will sprout flower blooms in the spring and summer. To keep your plant bushy and encourage growth of leaves (the part you harvest), snip the buds.

Cooking with Fresh Herbs

Cooking with fresh herbs is an easy way to elevate many dishes. It’s also super rewarding to reap the benefits of your gardening skills (fork, meet mouth)! Some meals and dishes can be based entirely on an herb, or simply use it as an extra ingredient or garnish. 

Breakfast

Persian Herb Frittata by The Kitchn makes great use of fresh dill and other herbs. Just start with Smith Brothers Farms Premium Eggs.

Lunch

Pesto pasta is made with fresh basil or parsley, lemon, pine nuts, and quality olive oil and grated parmesan cheese. Our favorite ingredients for a pasta pesto include Tacoma Boys Olio Dorato Lemon Garlic Olive Oil and Delallo Organic Farfalle Pasta.

Dinner

Strip Steak with Chimichurri Sauce by Jessica Gavin with Rosemary Roasted Potatoes by Rachel Cooks. Fresh oregano, cilantro, and parsley come into play in the chimichurri while rosemary perfectly seasons Baby Red Potatoes. We like Prime Grade Top Sirloin for this meal. 

Snack

Pull-Apart Sour Cream and Chive Rolls by Bon Appetit. Cooking with fresh herbs makes these buttery tolls tasty enough to enjoy as a snack any time of the day. Bob’s Red Mill Bread Flour makes them soft and flaky.

Cocktail

Basil alongside mint or lime is one of the tastiest ways to use fresh herbs in a drink. This recipe uses fresh basil alongside cocktail basics like simple syrup and club soda. 

Basil Mojito 

Ingredients (serves 2)

• 10 fresh basil leaves
• Juice of two limes (2 ounces)
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• 4 ounces white rum
• Club soda to top
• 2 lime wedges and basil leaves to garnish

Directions

1. Lightly muddle the basil and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
2. Add the lime juice and white rum and shake with ice for 30 seconds.
3. Strain into two glasses and fill with club soda to preference.
4. Garnish with lime wedges and basil leaves and enjoy!

Get Creative In the Kitchen

Swing by your local Tacoma Boys to get prepped for those fresh and flavorful meals made with your herb garden. No matter what you have planned for the menu, fresh herbs are almost always a thoughtful addition. To stay up to date on insider deals and specials, sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!

We have no doubt that vegetable gardeners are behind the scenes, plotting, planning and even beginning to sow for their summer gardens. February and March are still plenty cold, but our moderate climate allows for some early planting. When you come in and visit us, you’ll see that we, too, have the gardening bug and are filling our lot with everything you need for your summer garden. Some people think about the whole lot! Perhaps a new shed, or maybe removing a couple of trees for a wider space, in fact, some even think about consulting with some Milwaukee hardscape suppliers to see what they might need for a new hardscaping project like a patio or paved path. However, not everyone has quite the same zeal for gardening a large plot. Tilling and sowing and maintenance on a large scale might not be your thing. Enjoy a small scale garden and add beauty that you can savor with a patio herb garden.

Think Savory

A sprinkle of fresh chopped herbs at the end of cooking time elevates a dish from good to spectacular. Why not grow your own herb patch just outside your kitchen window? A patio herb garden grown in containers is just as stunning as a non-edible arrangement. Try some of these combos to add beauty, aroma, and flavor to your patio garden.

Rosemary, Sage, and Thyme

You can use the gardening concept of using a “thriller, filler, and spiller” even in an edible garden, though nothing in this arrangement counts as just a filler, when it is all edible! For this arrangement, place an upright growing rosemary in the center of the pot as a thriller. Sage comes in a variety of leaf colors and acts as a great filler next to the rosemary. Along the outside of the pot, a few thyme plants will fill in the added space and spill over the edges as it grows. This perennial arrangement should provide beauty and flavor for years to come.

Parsley, Marigolds, and Nasturtiums

This is another great, and edible, “thriller, filler, spiller” combination that will wow with its vibrant color. Parsley, at the center of the pot, will provide an upright green spray as a backdrop for sunny marigold plants. Marigold petals add stunning color and a peppery kick to salads.

Plant nasturtiums around the edge of the pot and they will dramatically spill over the edge. Both their leaves and flowers are edible, with a spicy taste akin to arugula. Add the flowers to salads or rice dishes for a pop of color. Don’t be surprised when the hummingbirds constant your patio. They are fond of the nectar from nasturtiums’ vibrant flowers.

For more great edible flowers, check out this list.

Mint, Mint, and More Mint!

Mint gets a bad wrap in the vegetable patch because it is a vigorous grower and becomes invasive, but it lends itself perfectly to container gardening. The plant will be constricted by the pot and will grow lush without taking over.

Spearmint is the most commonly used mint for mixed drinks, especially mojitos. If you only want to grow one mint variety, this is a great standard. The variety of mint flavor profiles and leaf colors is quite diverse. You might find that pineapple mint, chocolate mint, or lemon bergamot mint is more your speed.

If you choose to grow more than one variety of mint, be sure to plant each in separate pots. The flavor profile of each mint tends to get muddled and bland when they are grown together.

Pocket Planters: Not Just for Strawberries

Fill a pocketed, strawberry planter with your most used herbs for a quick one-stop shop, when it’s time to prep dinner. Place an upright herb, such as basil, in the top of the planter and tuck herbs with a trailing habit into the side pockets: oregano, lemon balm, tarragon, rosemary, and thyme are all good options. Just avoid mint in this planting, unless you fancy a pot full of mint.

With a few simple plant pairings in your patio herb garden, your patio can become a sanctuary and a culinary inspiration. Stop in to see which pots and herbs call out to you. Our ceramic pots are always Buy One Get One Free, so you can make a big impact quickly.

For insider tips on how to keep plants and flowers fresh and longer lasting, download Tacoma Boy’s how-to guide here. Then, stay up to date on insider deals and specials when you sign up for Tacoma Boys’ text list. Just text (253) 246-1661 to tell Paul you want to be on the list!

We know that the pots at Tacoma Boys and H & L Produce are beautiful as stand alone decorations, or as homes for thousands of kinds of plants, and even a series of vegetable starts. But an unsung hero for the foodie and young family is easy access to herbs. So here is our quick guide to a do it yourself herb garden. (more…)

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