For those who want to brighten up an outdoor patio, or want to grow a small vegetable garden with limited space, container gardens might be the answer. Growing lovely flowers, edibles or a combination of the two can be fun and add beauty to an area. Container gardening is a good choice for a warm, sunny location with an accessible water source and some shade for the hottest times of the summer.
Container gardens can help with the management of weeds, and reduce invasion by wildlife pests. Arranging plants in containers can bring out garden creativity. There are a number of great choices for containers.
Lately, old stock water tanks and metal beds have gained popularity. Larger containers will help retain more soil moisture and, they will also accommodate more plants. Choose the right location for the largest pots and fill it on-site with soil, as the containers will become too heavy to move.
Containers can be decorative ceramic, inexpensive plastic or re-purposed items such as old shoes, or kitchen tools. Keep in mind that: When making a trip to the nursery to purchase plants, have a plan for your container — theme, type of plants, color combinations, etc. Read plant labels carefully.
Growth habit, sun and water needs are listed. Look for healthy plants. Avoid plants with yellowing leaves.
Look at the bottom of the plant container for excessive root growth and check the root ball for crowded, entangled roots. Which to choose — annuals or perennials? Perennials may be slow.