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Guide To Container Gardening
Whether you live in a small city apartment or on a huge country estate, gardening in containers is a great way to add color and a natural ambiance to your home.
There are three important steps that need to be taken in order to create a successful container garden:
- Selecting the pots
- Getting the proper planting medium
- Choosing the plants
In each of these steps, the key is to create a healthy environment for the plant roots to grow in. Water must be able to pass quickly through the soil to have a healthy root system. As water drains out of the soil it is replaced by air, and an exchange of carbon dioxide is made with the plant roots. This movement of air and water is essential to maintaining healthy plants.
Here are a few tips to help you choose from the wide array of available pots, boxes, and troughs:
• Choose the spot for your garden first, then you
can find a container suitable for it. For example,
a country style wooden trough would not be
suitable for a modern balcony. Neither would
classic urn-shaped pots be suitable for a country
style garden. And of course you need to pay
attention to size and proportion issues.
• You should carefully consider the weight of the
container, both empty and filled with wet soil and
your plants. If your outdoor space is frequented
by strong prevailing breezes, the container must
be heavy enough to keep it from blowing over.
Additionally, the structure that you place the
container on must be able to support it. A large
concrete trough wouldn't be suitable for a wooden
porch or balcony, and a six foot wooden trough
would need a super strong ledge if you wanted
to use it as a window box.
• Clay pots are attractive and make an excellent
choice for a wide range of flowering plants and
foliage. They're the traditional potting container
because they drain well and they wick moisture
through their sides. This ensures a drier root
environment which helps prevent root diseases.
But it also means you'll need to water more often.
If you tend to underwater your plants, only
drought tolerant plants should be used in terra
cotta pots.
Remember that clay pots can be pretty heavy. They
also must be protected in colder climates during the
winter months in order to prevent cracking.
A glazed clay container is non-porous which creates
a moisture barrier. Since this will prevent the root
system from breathing, glazed pots are best used
with a regular terra cotta pot placed inside of them.
• Plastic pots are inexpensive, lightweight and very
functional. They're also available in a wide variety of
sizes, shapes, and colors. If you don't like the look of
plastic, you can simply apply a faux finish or slip the
plastic pots inside other more attractive containers.
With the proper soil mixture and regular watering,
plants do very well in plastic pots. Plastic pots make
a better choice than terra cotta if you tend to
underwater your plants, but they may need to be
weighted down to keep them in place on windy days.
• Wood containers look very good in country
environments, and most plants will do well in
them. Wood allows water to drain better than
plastic, but it doesn't have the wicking advantage
of clay. And wood containers can be pretty heavy
when planted.
Select containers made of cedar, redwood, or
cypress because these woods are less susceptible
to rot over time. Lining wood containers with
heavy duty plastic provides added protection from
moisture, but be sure to provide proper drainage.
• Metal containers make an excellent choice for use
in modern settings. Galvanized containers are very
good for planting because they won't leach any
chemicals or rust into the soil. Unless the container
was originally designed to be used as a planter,
you'll need to drill drainage holes in the bottom of
it.
• "Found" items can add a bit of whimsy and variety
to your container garden. If you're going to plant
directly in teapots, old boots, watering cans, or
wheelbarrows, be sure to ensure drainage and air
movement around the roots of the plants.
Container gardening is a fun way to add a touch of country to any setting. And if properly cared for, your plants (and their containers) will thrive and provide beauty and freshness to your home and garden.
Debbie Rodgers is the owner and operator of Paradise
Porch. She is dedicated to helping people create
outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them.
Visit her at:
www.paradiseporch.com.
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