Container Gardening Time Is Here!

We hear it all the time here at the nursery, “I have these two pots on either side of my front door…”

Don’t fret, container gardening is quite simple, once you put a little bit of thought into it. Doing magnificent pots on either side of your door can be something that you can easily achieve sucess with if you just put a little bit of time and effort into proper plant and container selection.

FIRST OFF:

Please, use caution and a little bit of common sense when selecting your containers. Take note as to what the container is made out of and the sun exposure it will be placed in, such as porous containers such as Terra Cotta will be more prone to try out when placed in full direct heat and sunshine. In that circumstance you’ll have more maintanence and have a harder time keeping your selections moist throughout the hot summer months.

On the other hand, it is imperative that you make sure there is proper drainage in your pot, in other words, make sure there is a good sized hole, or even several to make sure you don’t have sitting water in the bottom of your container. If there is sitting water, you’re looking at a whole different multitude of problems such as stinky soil and root rot–both things that will NOT assure you an abundant crop of flowing flowers.

Sometimes this will require you to bore holes into the bottom of your container, just mind what you bore with, different materials require different types of drill bits. Ask a hardware store which hole maker is right for you.

You might also decide to place pea gravel in the bottom of your pot to aid in drainage as well, which is good, if you don’t plan on moving your pot around a whole bunch. Pea gravel adds weight to the pot and can easily be substituted by packing peanuts (which you can purchase at a shipping supply store). Although adding volume to the bottom of a pot isn’t mandatory, it can reduce the amount of money you have to spend on sometimes expensive potting soil. Also take caution as to what you plan on planting, some plants are going to need every bit of soil you can get to them, like if you were to use a woody shrub or tree instead of fleshy perennials.

Without proper drainage, you’re failing before you put even the first plant in!

Secondly:

This may come as a shock to you, but just because you have a front door, does NOT mean that you HAVE to have two pots on either side. There are certain situations and growing circumstances that are just not conducive to successful flower growing, like under a dark porch with little light. If you’re wanting bright colors and vibrance to your pots, find places around your yard that would be suitable growing areas.

Full sun areas such as back porches and garden beds are fantastic for showier bright flowers such as Geraniums and Vinca and at the same time, shadier areas such as right under the eve of a front porch are fantastic areas for Begonias and Boston Ferns. (we’ll get more in depth in plant selection in part two)

Make good notes as to exactly how much sun your container is going to get. Look at whats around your container  such as:

large trees that cast shade

building that may cast a shadows

Gutters or Lack Thereof that my drop heavy rainfall

Dryer vents or exhaust fans of any sort

High traffic areas where the possibility of overturning is greater

Ease of access with a hose or watering can

All of these things, although they may not seem like a big deal are crucial in success of the planter itself.

In our next installement, we will go into plant selection and success stories.