Containing Your Garden
I made a discovery. You see, I love flowers and plants, but
there is limited yard space where I live, so I thought that I
would have to be content with admiring the lush gardens and
greenery of others' gardens. Then I discovered the concept of
container gardening.
Well, actually, the concept of container gardening has been
there all along - I had just never really thought about it or
considered that it could be the answer to my gardening woes.
But, once I discovered it, I decided to give it a try, and I am
quite pleased with the results.
If you to try container gardening and want your garden to be
successful, you should choose good containers for your plants.
But how do you know if the container you want to use is right
for your plant?
First of all, use your imagination to choose containers for your
garden. You can plant in old bathtubs, crocks, barrels, baskets,
bowls, wooden boxes, and sacks - just about anything. I've even
seen someone use an old commode - yuck! However, there are
things to consider when you're trying to choose suitable
containers for your plants.
You should avoid choosing containers for your plants that have
narrow openings - your plant is already contained, it needs as
much room as possible to grow and thrive. You plant does not
have access to the soil and room to spread out as much as in a
traditional garden, so that means that you should not hinder its
growth and development any further if you can avoid it.
Thinking about cheaper plastic pots? Don't. These cheap plastic
containers are more inclined to deteriorate in the sun. And if
you're thinking about terracotta pots for your garden, remember
that clay pots dry out in the sun. This means you'll have to be
careful to water as often as necessary and make sure your plants
are not getting overheated and drying out.
Glazed ceramic pots are an excellent choice, but often they do
not have enough drainage holes in the bottom. So you'll most
likely have to add a few. If this is a problem, you will want
to, at the least, add a 1-2 inch layer of gravel at the bottom
of the container before adding your soil.
A lot of people like to use wooden containers for their gardens
because these containers can be built to specification, but wood
can rot easily. So you will want to choose woods that are less
susceptible to this problem.
Some types of wood to consider are redwood and cedar. Also, you
should be sure that the wooden container you're using hasn't
been stained or painted - these chemicals are harmful to plants.
You should also avoid wood that has been treated with creosote,
penta or other toxic compounds - these are also harmful to
plants.
When choosing the containers for your garden, size is also
something that needs to be considered. Small pots are
restrictive to the root system and dry out very quickly. They
should only be used with plants that are very small and have
shallow root systems.
If you're growing more plants in your container, generally, you
will need a larger, deeper container to compensate. And
vegetables with deep roots will require deep pots.
Also, be sure to make sure your tallest plants are not to be
more than twice the height of the container. And make note that
the plant's fullness does not spread over the edge of the
container more than half the width of the container.
And again, drainage is important. Your containers should have an
adequate number of holes to allow for proper drainage. Remember,
drainage is hindered when you place your containers on solid
surfaces such as concrete floors or brick patios. You can
alleviate this problem by elevating your potted plants one or
two inches above the floor on blocks of wood or placing them on
a plant dolly.
Plant dollies are great for larger containers. They make moving
your plants around your patio a breeze. No back problems for
you...
Where the weather is very hot (such as the desert), you should
choose lighter colored containers to reflect the sun and to
prevent your plants from absorbing too much heat and drying out.
This also helps to discourage uneven root growth.
If you're using hanging baskets, line them with sphagnum moss to
help retain some water. And keep these plants out of the hot,
afternoon sun.
Well, that should get you started if you're thinking about
starting a container garden.