Read about some great ways to create beautiful container gardens.
Don’t have the time or space to manage a complete garden? One simple way to enjoy beautiful flowers (and even vegetables!) is to start some container gardens around your home. If you have a deck, consider adding window boxes around the perimeter. Flowers planted in these will look great all summer long with minimal maintenance.
How to Pot a Container
Start with a pot in a color you like- and make sure it has good drainage and a pot liner beneath it. You can put some small rocks or broken shards of an old terra cotta pot in the bottom, to add additional drainage. Fill the pot ¾ of the way with a well-fertilized potting soil. At this time you can also add plant food sticks to the soil if you’d like. Now add your plants, tucking them in gently with some additional potting soil. Water well.
Plants for Container Gardens
Many plants thrive in container gardens, but some of the best plants (the kind that really spill down the sides and look fantastic!) include:
Lantana- comes in a bunch of varieties- primarily reds, yellows, and oranges, is drought tolerant, grows well from May to October, loves sun.
Verbena - comes in pinks, purples or reds, drought tolerant, grows May to October, loves sun.
Petunias - come in a million colors (try the tiny "Million Bells" variety), not picky about sun or shade, hangs well.
Spike - a must-have to give height to the back of your container arrangement.
Nasturtium - gorgeous colors, love sun, smell great- and are edible!
Impatiens - a must for the shade container. Any color, they last forever, may even self-seed on the ground and surprise you next year.
Sweet potato vine - gorgeous foliage, stunning hanging down the front of your container.
Herbs - a huge variety of herbs can be grown in containers and may help you keep them- well, 'contained'!
Fruits/vegetables - strawberries are the classic container plant and come back year after year; cherry tomatoes, and even carrots or onions can be grown in containers - be creative!
Water your containers a few times a week if there is no rain, and add a good flower food once a week to your water to create a gorgeous, long-lasting container garden. Pots and other containers can be placed on porches, near windows inside the house, or around the corners of your deck or patio. They are great for adding color to a spot in a garden that 'needs something,' and they can be moved around for when you are entertaining in a certain area.
Container gardens will bring you colorful enjoyment through the summer and into fall.
Read some ways to enjoy Outdoor Living at Home.
