Gardening in Containers
Gardening in Containers – Choosing Your Containers
For container gardening, the types of material you choose for your containers will be
influenced by your location and budget as much as your preferred style. Choose a long-lasting, frost-proof material
whenever possible. Something to bear in
mind is the empty weight of the container, a heavy stone pot may be perfect for
a permanent position on a ground level patio but totally unsuitable for a deck
or balcony.
In most cases you will need to put the planter in position
before filling it with soil or compost and plants, as they will significantly
increase the overall weight. This is
especially important if you are using planters on a balcony or other weight sensitive
areas.
Are you looking to introduce some instant height into an area of your garden? If so, you may want to consider multi-level planters, arches, tall posts, wall mounted containers and hanging baskets or ground planters with climbing structures. Each type of container will form a different shape and require a different kind of planting.
Your Container Garden
How large a space do you want the container garden to cover? Would one or two large containers be enough…or
would a group of smaller ones look better?
A large planter will dry out more slowly and can hold bigger plants, but
you may achieve more variety with several smaller pots in complementary
designs, perhaps at differing heights.
How important to you is ease of maintenance? If you are often away from home, if you live
in an arid district or if water access is limited, larger containers in
non-porous materials are probably the answer.
Most container plants will need watering at least once a day in summer
and feeding once a week.
Would you prefer a mobile form of container garden, where you can move the planters around? Or do you want to make a permanent statement, with stability a key issue? If you want to move your containers regularly they will either have to be relatively small and lightweight or you can place your planters on purpose made platforms with wheels for ease of movement.
Your Climate and Container Gardening
What kind of weather do you get in your garden? Most container plants require at least five
hours of sunshine each day. If your site
is very windy or bathed in very hot sunshine all day, you may need to build
some form of screening to protect delicate plants, or choose your plants
accordingly. If you live in a colder
climate, you may need to choose more mobile planters to bring pots under cover
during the winter months. On the other
hand, if you live in a hot climate, consider using light colored containers to
lessen heat absorption.
Some other things you can do to decrease watering are to use a special water retentive compost. This contains granules that soak up the water and then release it slowly back into the soil. Plus when you have finished planting you can place a layer of stones or decorative chippings around your plants to stop them drying out so quickly.
Growing Vegetables in Containers
Planters on Amazon
Elegant Cast Stone French Vase Planter
The Cast Stone French Vase Planter is made with the
highest quality ingredients and is hand cast in the USA. The dry cast
mix design includes real crushed stone acrylic additives stainless
steel cable and tiny chopped glass fibers for increased strength and
durability in any climate. The planter is available in your choice of
finish Limestone Pewter Cream and Terra Cotta.
Gardening in Containers Links
- Organically Grown Food - Is Organic Really Good?
Is organically produced food better for you? You may have been hearing more about organic food recently. The fact is that people in general are becoming more concerned about the environment that they live... - Growing Your Own Vegetables and Fruit
With the current economic climate, choosing to grow your own food makes very good sense. As well as saving money, there are health benefits to eating fresh, home grown, organic produce. If you’re not... - 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...