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Gardening and Landscaping Tips: Container Gardening

Contributed by Rick Vuyst at Fruit Basket Flowerland

Container Gardening Basics

Container gardening continues to “grow” in popularity! For those who want instant results you can develop a showpiece using advanced sized plants. Containers today are interesting, colorful, and come in a wide range of sizes and materials. The container doesn’t have to play second fiddle to the plant material! That said, the plant combinations are limited only by your imagination. Use a combination of annuals, grasses, perennials, tropical, herbs, vegetables, even woody plants and climbing vines. The gardening trend of “vertical gardening” versus one-dimensional gardening utilizing both climbing and trailing plants is well suited to container gardening.

Assembling a container garden is a lot like creating a cut flower arrangement. You will need the vertical plants that are the “bones” of the planting which set the height and width limits. Next your feature or focal plants will get the most attention. They will be “framed” by the vertical plants, yet they stand out due to their interest and color. Finally don’t forget filler or trailer plants. Usually the last element added, they provide great interest by trailing over the side or “filling out” the arrangement. Remember to start in the center of the pot and work your way to the outside. As you place the plants think:
A) Focal plants
B) Filler plants working our way to the outside
C) Edging plants and finally
D) Trailing plants that spill over the side of the pot.

Always select a pot sizable enough proportionately to the number and size plants you’ll be using. A proper soil volume to support the roots is necessary, especially in the heat of summer. Consider adding water retention polymers to the soil to make moisture retention easier. Use a good quality container soil (lightweight) available here at Flowerland. We also have slow release fertilizer like Osmecote to incorporate into the soil. Amend in season with a water-soluble fertilizer.