Question
We live in NE Illinois where our backyard has a septic tank.  The concrete lids are exposed on the ground and we want to set containers with plants on them to cover their view.  During the summer, direct sun light is on them 6-8 hours a day.  What plants are best for this type of sun and weather?  What size/type containers are needed?  We want various sizes, but not any that are taller than 5 feet.  Any ideas for us to consider?  By the way, one center septic lid cover is about a 4-foot diameter circle, the other two are 1 and a half feet in diameter.

Answer
With out seeing the site, I could not tell you what to put there. I can, however, guide you in a way that you can plan a nice display. And that is what it will be, a display. With any display, you will need to choose a theme. Something that goes well with your surrounding landscape, with your house, and you taste in design. Choose the containers first. Then choose the plants to compliment the containers. If, for example, you have a country setting, with a ranch house, wooden containers with red geraniums would fit the rustic design. White plastic modern containers would be set off with exotic plants with abstract shapes. If you just want a flower garden look. Mix some marigolds, and alysumm, and sedum, and verbena,and dwarf ornamental grass in plastic terra cotta colored containers.  Mix gold, yellow, orange, white, and dark burgandy, or purple. You may have to experiment until you find the look you want. But, I caution you, that no matter what flowers you choose, you will still need to do some extra work to help them take the heat. Develop a routine of watering consistently. During hot and sunny periods some plants may require watering two or three times daily. Water abundantly until the water runs out the bottom of the container. Use potting soil that contains extra peat moss, or add it to your potting soil. Add time release fertilizer to the soil. And add a water retaining polymar or moisture granules. If the sun is able to shine on bare spots on the soil, put pebbles, bark or moss to shade the soil. If the septic lids are metal, they may reflect heat. In that case, try to cover them completely with the pot, or something, to keep the sun from heating them up. If you plan to move the plants to get into the septic, it might be wise to look for light containers that are easy to lift. Remember when designing your display, to keep everything in proportion. Large plants in large pots and small in small. But, try to keep the colors matching in all of the pots. There are several good books with lists of hundreds of plants that would do well in full sun, in a container or read the lable on the plant at the nursery.
bakerplanter