Landscape design with planter boxes follows the same principles as planting directly in the ground, but with one advantage: a planter's position, height and grouping can be specified precisely and changed later without disturbing anything underneath it. The sections...
Author: Susan P
Author Bio
Susan, the Green-Thumbed Architect
Susan is a retired architect with a lifelong passion for nature and sustainable living. After years designing buildings, she found a fulfilling second chapter in gardening, cultivating a thriving edible forest in her own backyard and applying her architectural eye to the layout, sunlight, and water flow of her garden as if it were a living structure.
Susan's love for gardening extends beyond her own backyard. She has been actively involved in her local community, sharing her knowledge through workshops and lectures. When not gardening, she enjoys spending quality time with her daughter and grandson, together creating garden centrepieces that foster a love of nature and creativity in the next generation.
From 2012 to 2022, Susan was also a valued contributor to Sigma Planters, writing informative articles on sustainable gardening practices that helped many readers embrace a greener approach to their own outdoor spaces. The articles below reflect her original work from that period.
Susan has since retired from writing for Sigma Planters, and our plant care and container gardening content is now produced by our Sigma Planters Content Team.
Recent Articles From Susan P
How to Plant a Garden Pot or Planter Box: Step-by-Step
Want to turn your planter into a container garden work of art? Garden pots, especially Lightweight Fibreglass Planters, are a versatile and impactful way to enhance outdoor spaces, whether you're looking to elevate your home or enhance the street appeal of your...
How to Incorporate Xeriscaping into Your Next Landscape Design
Are you familiar with the term xeriscaping? Is this something that you’ve done in one of your previous projects? If not, read on ahead. This guide is part of our Garden Pot & Planter Design Resource Hub, alongside other in-depth resources. What is Xeriscaping?...
Rocks That Can be Used in Landscaping
If you’re looking for a way to add texture, contrast, and permanence to your outdoor space, rocks are the answer. Unlike foliage, which changes with the seasons, landscaping rocks provide a stable visual anchor that requires zero watering and minimal maintenance....
Cooling Off Soil and Pot Plants During Hot Weather
As summer progresses, temperatures inevitably rise. The sun beats down relentlessly on planted pots and gardens; as the days grow longer, the heat can take a heavy toll on your greenery. If you doubt that the flora in your landscape and planter boxes can survive the...
Poolside and Resort Spaces Design with Extra Large Planters
There's something inherently calming about water—whether it's a shimmering swimming pool or a tranquil resort setting. But to truly create that sought-after tropical escape, you need more than just water. Lush greenery, statement trees, and thoughtful landscaping are...
Scott Brown: Reflecting on 19 Years of His Landscape Design Career
Scott Brown retired from his landscape design career and is now pursuing other interests. But one thing is certain, his legacy and influence in the landscape design industry will not be forgotten. Despite hanging up his boots back in 2012, Scott continues to receive...
Australian Landscape Designers: Brent Reid on Loving His Craft and Building Good Relationships
With 14 years of experience in the industry, Brent Reid is one of the most accomplished Australian landscape designers. In 2006, he started his own firm Candeo Design, after eight years of working with Semken Landscaping, and Jim Fogarty for three years. He is a...
Jim Fogarty: On Learning, Being Passionate, and Keeping Up with Technology
Jim Fogarty is an award-winning garden designer from Melbourne. He has been all around the world designing gardens here and there as he strives to learn and improve on his craft. Jim is driven by passion and we all know passionate people are destined for greatness. I...
Anne Wareham: On Designing a Garden but Hating Gardening
Anne Wareham and her husband has been working and designing a garden in the UK for 25 years. They are the couple behind Veddw House Garden -- now one of the most awe-inspiring gardens in the UK. I made the garden because I wanted a garden, not because I wanted to...
A Guide to Aromatic and Medicinal Pot Plants
The medicines we see today—from heavy antibiotics to common syrups—did not exist a century ago. In the past, people relied exclusively on herbal remedies and traditional medicine. For thousands of years, plants have been used to treat human ailments. Even cosmetics...
Horticulturalist Janna Schreier: Why She Left the Corporate World to Pursue Her Love of Gardening
This time around we interview horticulturalist Janna Schreier. Janna left the corporate world to pursue her love of gardening and her life partner. She is a recipient of Most Promising Garden Design Graduate award in 2011. She passed both RHS Cert 2 and the RHS cert 3...
BBC Gardener of the Decade: Katherine Crouch
We have had an opportunity to interview one of the greatest gardeners of this decade - Katherine Crouch. Katherine was hailed as BBC Gardener of the Decade in 2008 and BBC Gardener of the Year back in 1999. Get to know this award-winning gardener and her story below....
Growing Moth Orchids in Pots are a Great Attraction
Blooming orchids look so fragile that you could not imagine it growing in pots or indoors especially if you are an “orchid beginner”. Phalaenopsis, also known as moth orchids are the best orchids to be cultivated at home. It is not only exquisite but is also...
Carrion Flowers in Pots, a Unique Attraction
Carrion flowers, also known as “corpse flower” or “striking flower”, usually grow in the forest. This plant is known for its large flowers. Most people think that because of its physical appearance, it is hard to propagate carrion flowers in containers when in fact,...
Brighten Up Your Home with Begonias in Pots
Begonias are treasured for their extraordinary variety of colours, textures, and forms. From the striking, jewel-like leaves of Rex begonias to the constant bloom of fibrous varieties, these plants offer a versatility that few others can match. They create a beautiful...
Growing Chives in a Pot
Growing chives at home in a Flower Pot is one of the most rewarding endeavours for any cook or gardener. Considering their versatility and how widely they are used in everything from scrambled eggs to a classic Aussie baked potato, chives are among the easiest herbs...
Growing Parsley in a Garden Pot
Parsley is one of the most beloved and versatile herbs in any kitchen, prized for its fresh, vibrant flavour that elevates everything from sauces to salads. Best of all, growing parsley in a pot is remarkably simple, making it an ideal choice for novice gardeners and...
Small Garden Design Ideas: How to Create a Beautiful Garden in a Limited Space
Not everyone has a sprawling yard to work with — and honestly, that constraint can be the making of something truly special. A courtyard, a balcony, a narrow terrace, or a compact front entrance can all become lush, considered gardens. The key is approaching the space...
Going Native I: Using Native Rocks for Landscaping
Re-vegetation is an effort dedicated to replenishing the native flora of an area using indigenous plants and native rocks for landscaping. Learning about this lovely movement afoot makes all sorts of sense when you realise that designing with the naturally occurring...
Outdoor Dining: Creating the Mood with Planters
Outdoor dining is one of the most pleasurable dining experiences one can have. From the natural air to waterfalls and birds, relaxation is nearly impossible to inhibit and the cuisine and company only adds to the environment. However, planters play a large role in...
How to Make Your Container Garden Stand Out
When you have had enough experience with handling simple container planting arrangements, start aiming for higher. Mix and match colours and textures to create elegant combinations of plants to make your planters stand out. A simple container garden does the job...
Using Planters to Create the Modern Office
In this day and age, business is competitive, and the cutting-edge business warrants a sleek and modern look around the office. The environment in which one works says a lot about the view and aim of the company, as well as what the company stands for. For that...
Poolside Planting: Using Planters to Add Ambiance to the Pool Area
Pools are, in and of themselves, some of the most relaxing places on Earth. Aside from actually being at the ocean, pools the most calmest and a soothing aquatic experience one can have. In fact, sometimes this environment is even calmer than the ocean or a natural...
The Enduring Power of Geometry in Landscape Architecture
There is a timeless joy in witnessing a landscape design that locks perfectly into the geometry of its architectural counterpart. It reveals a fascinating structure—a visual conversation between the built and the planted. While budgetary constraints or conservative...
All in the Arrangement: Design Ideas for Potted Plants
Planters are a great way to add style, artistic value, and ambiance to both indoor and outdoor locations. However, some of the simplest ways to use planters in design is to go back to basics and use the tiniest planter of all: the pot, or potted plant. Just because...
Filling Empty Spaces with Planters
Little surprises make one's day. A small space treated with a large pot or a group of small ones now, that didn't seem important before, becomes a delightful setting. These little spaces are everywhere. With a landscape architect's sensitive eye for detail when...




























