3 Tips for Container Garden Success
Your door mat may say “Welcome” but what are your container gardens saying?
Whether they sit at the front door or mark the entrance to the driveways these are the ambassadors that really welcome guests to your home. At least they should. Of course, we have all seen container gardens that say “I’m overwhelmed”, “I’m tired” or even worse…”stay away!” Now I am not blaming anyone; we are all busy people: time-pressed and energy-starved. Our intentions are good but then life gets in the way. Rather than giving up on container gardening, which is my first love (alright maybe second after Scott Weaver in first grade), let me give you some tips to make container gardening success a bit easier.
3 Tips for Container Garden Success
1: Start with a large pot.
Most of my containers are between 18”-20” in diameter. Same goes for window boxes. Make sure they are at least 8” deep and wide. A large container means greater soil volume so plants will not dry out as quickly so there’s less watering for you. While you may be tempted to keep the water in the pot by not drilling drainage holes, don’t do it. Your plant roots will rot and you’re back to square one. Avoid terra cotta pots. The porous material is great for Mediterranean type plants (think rosemary, lavender), but it practically dries out when you turn your back and we are going for less maintenance, not more, right? Gardener’s Supply in Vermont has a great selection of planters, even some that are self-watering.
2: Choose the right plant for your location.
Sounds sensible but I have seen too many sun-loving geraniums limping along on a shady porch. Putting sun-lovers in shady spots and shade-lovers in sunny spots will not make for happy plants and you will have to “baby” your containers to maintain them and who has time for that?
3: Focus on foliage.
I am a huge fan of all-foliage containers. Deadheading, the process of removing spent flowers to encourage re-blooming, is relaxing to some people. Not me. Nothing says “Sit back and enjoy that glass of wine” like a container that needs no deadheading. A container of foliage plants will look as beautiful in August as it did in June. If you insist on flowers, focus on those that require little deadheading, or are self-cleaning like bacopa, lantana, or calibrachoa (million bells). And include great foliage plants like coleus or heuchera among the bloomers. That way when those flowering plants take a break (which for me is typically right before a big party mid-summer) you will still have something pretty to look at.
By using my three simple tips, you are sure to have container gardens that will welcome guests to your home this summer.
You may not even need the welcome mat!
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