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digginginassociation

@digginginassociation

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Association for Professional Container Gardeners. Offering business resources, education, community and connections in our industry.

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Here are the planting and judging photos of my entry in the DiggingIn Association Fall Container Challenge (after a 4 week growing period using Organic Mechanics potting mix and fertilizer packs). My design goal was to create an evening/vespertine/moonlight garden relying on frosted and variegated foliage. I also wanted something that would pop during the day, so I added the Persian shield and ornamental peppers. When I'm teaching workshops at Longwood, I'm very deliberate about building the plant or cut flower palette. For this friendly and fun competition, and for my 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show demonstration, I took what I like to call the "Iron Chef Approach." For the Flower Show, I had my color themes and I shopped from the merchants in the exhibit hall a couple of hours before my program - less carrying, more fun, and the flowers/foliage had already been cleared of disease or pests, which is necessary to protect the live plants in the Horticourt. Here, I was curious about what I could design from one independent garden center very late in the shopping season (a couple of my plants we're two for one 😂). I was also designing for a front porch that only gets morning sun, and the first hour or two it's dappled. So how did we do? (slide two, please) The frosted houseplants struggled, with the arrowhead (probably Alocasia) losing most of it's foliage and the Pothos getting nibbled by something. On the other hand, everyone else thrived and put on fresh foliage in spite of the shady situation (and excessive rains in Pennsylvania during the last month). I did lose a design element, but it's neighbors filled in the space, so I'll take that as a win (I'm also very pleased that the deer didn't turn this into a 6 course meal!) As far as the Organic Mechanics products, I'm very impressed - I have an abundant and healthy container planting in a challenging placement. I won't be rebranding from the Flower Sommelier to the Foliage Sommelier any time soon 😊, but this was a great education and a chance to get out of my comfort zone! @digginginassociation @organicmechanicsoil #flowersommelier #diggingin #organicmechanics #containergarden #gardening taken in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania by @digginginassociation

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4 days ago

The plants get all the attention but what’s underneath it matters too.

When I’m planting a container, I want to set my plants up for success. This means planting in a soil that holds moisture but not too much, drains well, and can offer other soil-building benefits too.

So when I had the opportunity to trial @organicmechanicsoil, I jumped at it.

Follow along with me because one of the things that separates a container that looks great on planting day from one that continues to perform as the season rolls along is its foundation — potting soil.

CONTAINER RECIPE
Callistemon ‘Wetlands Challenged Mutant’
Calluna ‘Sissi’
Dryopteris ‘Brilliance’
Bracteantha bracteum ‘Granvia Pink’
Hellebore ‘Snow Fever’
Heuchera ‘Fire Alarm’
Lonicera crassifolia
Sato Pansy ‘Elegance Antionette’

BULBS
Tulipa ‘Copper Image’
Tulipa ‘Queen of ‘Night’
Muscari latifolium

#containergardening #peatfreepottingsoil #strongfoundations #prettyontop importantantstuffonthebottom #womenownedbusiness taken in Seattle, Washington by @digginginassociation

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16 days ago

#outsidebydesign #containergarden #kcsmallbusiness #finegardening by @digginginassociation

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17 days ago

With some areas of central Massachusetts seeing over 5 in of rain in just 3 days, we're dealing with lots of standing water! Don't forget to check on those planters. Especially the ones without proper drainage. Most of mine have nice little holes in the bottom, but these reproduction whiskey barrels don't.

I'm just thankful it's my planters that are flooded and not the basement! taken in Central Massachusetts by @digginginassociation

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19 days ago

One bag. Four weeks. FALL challenge accepted! 🌿🧡

Taking on the @digginginassociation × @organicmechanicsoil Fall Container Challenge with their Container Blend Potting Soil + Root Zone Feeder Packs.

Here’s where we’re starting… now let’s see what four weeks can do. 👀

#digginginassociation #organicmechanics #containergardening #fallcontainers #challenge taken in Chicago, IL by @digginginassociation

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24 days ago

🌱 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT 🌱 Meet: Jennifer Jimmerson. One of the best parts of Digging In is getting to know the talented people behind the businesses who give their time and energy to help our community grow. 🌱 This month we bring you Jennifer Jimmerson of Outside By Design. Jennifer also serves in our Industry Outreach Committee. Jennifer brings a love of nature and an education in Horticulture that shows in all of her work. 🌱 Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your time and knowledge with Digging In. Please be sure and follow her at @outsidebydesign taken in Kansas City, Missouri by @digginginassociation

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24 days ago

What you choose to go below the soil line is just as important as the plants you choose to go on top. That’s why we use Organic Mechanics Potting Soil in ALL our planters. Used by famous gardens, like Longwood Gardens, and personal gardens, like mine- it lasts multiple years and is made right here in VA! For more information about soil and feeder packs check out-
🪴OrganicMechanicSoil.com
🪴Proven Winners Aquapots- https://provenwinnersdirect.com/products/
🪴U Felice pot risers and Drain Smart discs are from Amazon

Soil and feeder pack ingredients:
🪴Today we are trying “Fuhgeddaboudit” root zone feeder packs, under the plants. They contain mycorrhizae, biochar, azomite, and oyster shell flour. We’ll check back in a few weeks to see how they’re doing.

🪴If you are a current client then you already have Organic Mechanics Container Blend Potting soil or their Profesional Blend in your pots. This compost-based soil holds moisture over time, and can be reused over and over. It contains compost, aged forest products, coir earthworm castings and rice hulls. Perennials and annuals love it!
#organicmechanicsoil #diggingingathering #provenwinners #pottingsoil by @digginginassociation

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a month ago

Bright colors, interesting textures, and a little help from some peat-free potting soil - Thank you @organicmechanicsoil and @digginginassociation for the opportunity to create this cheerful autumn planter! by @digginginassociation

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a month ago

Here’s my entry for the Digging In Association Fall Container Challenge (the container garden designers’ professional association). I was ambivalent about competing because everyone does outstanding work, but it is a very supportive community and no matter where you finish, it’s going to be an excellent experience! I’m working in a Vespertine/Evening/Moon Garden theme, which is a garden genre I’ve taught several times. Almost all of the foliage is variegated, frosted or patterned to catch the light, but with enough saturated color - mostly purples for daytime interest. The ornamental peppers 🌶️ provide a pop of orange to contrast and lighten the rich, mostly tropical foliage. Frost doesn’t usually hit the New Jersey coast until mid-November, but this will probably move indoors in early October. It’s light enough to move and my parents’ beach house has an abundance of windows, so I expect a good run and to repot the more perennial members of the ensemble for future seasons. Organic Mechanics provided the potting mix and fertilizer packs - it’s a great company and Mark is an excellent speaker, horticulturist, and advocate for organic methods - we were both on the roster for the West Virginia Landscape and Nursery Association Winter Symposium in 2025. Photos include the Organic Mechanics supplies and the individual plants in the design. I’ll post daylight and early evening pictures tomorrow. 😊 o hope everyone likes my design and you also have time to see all of the other beautiful submissions. #containergardening #eveninggarden #moongarden #vespertinegarden #flowersommelier @organicmechanicsoil @digginginassociation taken in Townsend's Inlet by @digginginassociation

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a month ago

🪴Plant with me using @organicmechanicsoil potting soil!!

We are a part of the @digginginassociation and I first heard about the Organic Mechanics soils during a winter webinar series that they spoke at!

🌿I immediately thought about the implications for using their soil for my house plants! But then the opportunity came around to use their soil in my very own fall container garden!

I love their 100% organic guarantee!! ♻️

🪴So we’re going to watch this baby grow and I’ll talk more about the plants I chose, why @organicmechanicsoil is a great option, and how everything went!

👍Follow along!
Ps: shout out to my very amazing film crew!! 😍😘

#poshcontainergardens #containergardening #organic #fall #garden taken in Perry, Georgia by @digginginassociation

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a month ago

New to us, we are trying out @organicmechanicsoil for this fun autumn container. Featuring Little Blue Stem ‘The Blues’ grass, Japanese Forest Grass ‘All Gold’, Celosia ‘Red Currant’, Calamintha and some ornamental kale. Excited to see this container grow in over the autumn season! taken in Plymouth, Michigan by @digginginassociation

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a month ago

If the bag says to have fun while you’re planting with it … I decided to follow the instructions. 💃🌿

Now the real challenge begins: grow, baby, grow! 🌱 I’ll be back in 4 weeks to show you how this container has filled out and how well my plants have behaved under my care.

Design today. A reveal in four weeks. Challenge accepted. 💪🪴

#organicmechanicsoil #digginginassociation #containergardening #brunomars #porchpots taken in Thompsons Station, Tennessee by @digginginassociation

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a month ago