Polk County Master Gardeners
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Container Gardening
Containers for plants can solve a variety of problems. They put color
exactly where you want it; they can be changed much more quickly and easily than
garden beds; they can hold anything from pansies to vines to small trees.
The first thing to consider is the container itself. Almost anything will
work as long as it is the right size and shape and has enough drainage holes to
avoid keeping the roots soaked. The first thing you might do is look around your
kitchen, garage, or storage shed to see what you can find that can add just the
right whimsical touch and will not be needed again for its original purpose. You
will have to make holes in the bottom for drainage, and that doesn’t improve the
function of the wheelbarrow or roasting pan or old boot or chicken feeder that
you have decided would add just the right accent for your garden.
If you don’t find that perfect container, try garage sales. Otherwise, your
local nursery will have many to choose from: plastic, clay, metal, or decorative
Styrofoam are all possibilities. And you should not forget the hanging baskets.
They take more watering, but they are worth the effort.
Be sure that the height and width ratio are right. Too tall and the planting
medium will dry out at the top and stay wet on the bottom; too shallow and the
planting medium will not be able to retain enough water. Size, of course, will
vary wildly depending on what you want to put in it. As a rule of thumb, plants
that will get 2 to 3 feet high will need at least a 3 to 5 gallon container.
The best planting medium will be an artificial soil made up of compost, peat
moss, sand, vermiculite and perlite. This will give good aeration and drainage
while holding the water long enough for the roots of your plant to absorb it.
Garden soil usually compacts and is likely to harbor diseases. With the
artificial soil, you will need to use a water-soluble fertilizer on a regular
basis, following the directions on the package.
Watering is one of the most important things for your container-grown plants.
The requirements will vary with the type of plant, but most should get dry on
top before you water. That may take a month if we’re having one of our typical
cool, rainy springs, or it may be twice a day in mid-summer heat.
So, pick some plants that will thrive in the conditions you can provide, put
them in the right size and shape container, water and feed them as they need it,
and enjoy the instant beauty that containers can give your garden.
By Barbara M. Tobias
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