Contain it: Tips for Container Gardening

This year I'm trying something fairly new for me with my annuals: Containers.  The idea isn't new, it's just a new twist for my garden.  I usually have one container on the porch, but this year I decided to enlarge the container garden.

Let's face it: I'm not getting and younger.  The knees and ankles know it, and I'm dealing with it!  Having my favorite annuals right at the front door is not only beautiful, but convenient and easy on the legs. I love the burst of color you get from annuals, but I'm done right now with weeding huge sections of the garden on my knees.  I want to continue to add to my perennial beds and let them fill in.  But the annuals?   I decided to keep my annuals all in one place: right beside my front door. 

Enter the containers. 

 

The container in front I've had for years.  The green one was inside holding odds and ends of shoes and baseballs.  The planter behind those is the one the geraniums came in; tucking it behind the nicer ceramic ones camouflages it until I can replace it.

 

 

I want to seek out new sources of planters and find some creative alternative to expensive pots.  I also want to take a shot at making one; once the garage is back together and reorganized, that's something that's on my list!

 

In the meantime, here are a few tips I've learned about gardening in containers:

• Plants in containers need to be fertilized.  If you notice your flowers waning, it's a reminder to add your fertilizer: you will be shocked at the difference it makes!
• Make sure your pots have drainage holes in them.  Plants will not do well if they are in flooded soil. 
• Prepare for things to grow: I like my pots to look good today, but I'm prepared that they will outgrow these spots long before the growing season is over.
• Height!  Keep it varied; I have a favorite decorative grass I love to add height and texture, but haven't been able to find it yet this year.
• Stay away from clay pots: they suck the water from the soil and make it really hard to keep things moist.
• Use potting soil, not top soil!  It may seem like the same thing, but it's not.  Top soil will compact and become more like concrete, and it's not a good condition for growing flowers.  Potting soil is lighter and better for the plants. 

I can't wait to see how my container gardens grow this year!