Container Gardening - Planters and Pots

Container gardening is a great way to make full use of even the smallest outdoor space. Tubs, planters and pots can be placed with spectacular effect in large gardens, marking an entrance or bringing life to dull corners. Containers really come into their own when grouped in a confined space.

Container gardening is a wonderful opportunity to feature even your tropical house plants outdoors for the warmer months. Apartment balconies, terraces, backyards and courtyards can all be transformed by the use of carefully selected and planted containers.

There are a huge range of styles and sizes of container you can use, from imposing antique lead urns to small brightly colored plastic pots, with every variation in between. Containers come in just about any shape or size, in natural or manufactured materials, extravagantly ornate or plain, and in every imaginable color.

Alternatively, you could make your own planters, in which case your only constraints will be the size of your garden, the reach of your budget and the extent of your handicraft skills and imagination.

Almost any container can be used as a planter…just drill holes in the base and you are ready to plant.

While wooden planters and ceramic pots are traditional favorites, old metal buckets, birdcages and car tires can all be used to great effect. Adding a coat of paint in your desired color scheme can tie a mish-mash of containers together.

Even if your space is very limited or you only have a balcony, you can still find an extremely satisfying form of self-expression through your choice of planter and the plants you grow in them.

You can make use of any small outdoor space to grow salads in containers. For example a balcony, patio or deck can provide you with a source of fresh salad vegetables. Imagine your guests being able to pick their own salads to go with freshly barbecued meat!

One thing to be aware of with this type of small space container gardening is the weather. On an exposed patio or balcony your delicate plants may be vulnerable to the wind. Plus planters placed in direct sunlight may get overheated and will certainly require more watering.

Salad vegetables and herbs can be grown in all types of containers, pots, hanging baskets or grow-bags.

Easy to grow salad crops to consider include:

Lettuce or salad leaves - best to choose smaller varieties.

Tomatoes - miniature varieties in containers or hanging baskets.

Beetroot - baby beetroot grown from seed in large shallow troughs make a wonderful addition to summer salads.

Radishes - lots of varieties to choose from and they are very easy to grow. Just be sure to site them where slugs or other pests cannot get to them.

Spring onions - are perfect for salads.

There are other salad vegetables which will thrive in containers in some areas. Try buying an assortment of seeds and see what works for your outdoor spaces.