Creative Container Gardening
The Basics – Containers
Requirements
Must hold enough soil to support season-long root growth
Must hold up under wet conditions
Must have good drainage
Must be the right size to hold the plants at their mature size (proportion & stability)
Must compliment surrounding decor
Options
Let your creativity show!
Old buckets, wheelbarrows, old boots, aquariums, bushel baskets, hollowed-out logs, old china, other curbside treasures, etc
The Basics – Soil
Requirements
Use a soilless mix or potting mix
Combination of peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and other components to provide a good growing medium for plants
Soilless mix – light weight, less water-holding capacity
Potting mix – heavier, holds more water
Do not use topsoil or soil taken from the ground
Must have adequate water-holding capacity and drainage for the plant species selected
Must have adequate nutrients even though you will be adding fertilizer
The Basics – Fertilizer
Two types to use
Slow-release fertilizer like Osmocote
Mix in top 4 or 5 inches of soil at planting time
Lasts 3 to 4 months
Water-soluble fertilizer like Jack’s Classic by Peters
Mix with water and apply every 10 days to 2 wks
The Basics – Watering
Plants in containers need watering more often than plants in the ground
Plants in hot, sunny, or windy locations will need watering more often
Water in the morning to allow leaves to dry out during the day and avoid diseases
Avoid “Too Much Love” - Overwatering is worse than underwatering
Stick your finger in the soil about two or three inches deep
If it feels dry, water
If it feels moist, don’t water
Don’t give the plants “a little drink”
Allow water to completely saturate all of the soil in the container and drain out the bottom
Less frequent, deep, thorough watering is best
If the soil was very dry, water may run down inner sides of pot and not soak in
Water very slowly in center of pot to rehydrate very dry soil
The Basics – Planting Techniques
For large, heavy containers, fill up to half of the pot with non-degrading styrofoam peanuts to allow for drainage and to keep the weight down before adding soil
Leave 2 or 3 inches of space between the final soil level and the top of the pot
Generalized Layout
Tall, upright plant in the middle
Mounding and cascading plants along perimeter
Containers look best in groups
Use both containers with single species and containers with mixed plantings
Gently slide small plant out of pot for transplanting into a larger pot
Lightly compress soil around crown of plant
Plant at same depth in new pot
Water immediately after planting
Look for soil settling in air pockets and fill in as needed
The Basics – Choosing Plants
You get what you pay for
Choose healthy, well-branched plants showing new growth
Go for quality over quantity
Light Requirements
How many hours of sun does the area get?
What time of day does it get sun?
Water Requirements
Plants chosen for a given container must all have the same water needs
Consider mixing small shrubs, perennials, bulbs, grasses, and annuals in your container plantings
Small shrubs and perennials will need to be planted in the ground in early fall
Plants left in containers over winter will probably die due to freezing of roots
Consider size, shape, color, and texture when choosing plants for combinations
Upright, mounding, or cascading
Coarse or fine textured
Monochromatic or mixed colors
Where to get ideas for Combinations
At Adams Nurseries!
Erie Basin Marina Trial Gardens