|
Connelly says there are several
tips professionals use to ensure a successful container garden:
* Use your imagination. Terra
cotta is nice, but there are plenty of other types of containers
to choose from. Don't be afraid to try a planter box or wacky
containers, like watering cans or wastebaskets, even old washtubs
or aquariums. Just remember to poke a hole in the bottom for
drainage. Put plants of various shapes, colors, sizes and textures
together in the same container to complement and contrast.
* Size matters. Pay attention
to the space you have to work with on your balcony, deck or room.
Larger spaces allow for a nice mix of styles, shapes and sizes
of pots and plants, while small spaces look better filled with
different-sized containers made from the same material.
* Never overwater. According
to Connelly, drainage is the most important -- and most overlooked
-- aspect of container gardening. "Poor drainage kills more
container plants than nearly any other cause," he says.
"And the frustrating part is that it's preventable."
Connelly recommends replacing the stones or chunks of broken
clay that many people use to help drainage with a product like
the Flow 'n Grow Easy-Flow Container Drain, which he invented
to help the container gardens he uses in his landscaping business
thrive.
The beanbag-like Flow 'n Grow
is made of polypropylene beads sandwiched between two layers
of tightly woven, yet porous, rot-resistant fabric.
"While it lets water through,
Flow 'n Grow helps prevent messy decks or patios by keeping soil
and roots inside a container, rather than spilling through the
drainage holes at the bottom of a pot," Connelly says.
Connelly offers some additional
tips for creating a beautiful and healthy container garden.
* Move it. A great thing about
growing plants in pots is that containers can be moved with very
little effort. Depending on your mood, you can reposition containers
into thousands of different combinations. When you're filling
your containers, remember that different plants need different
amounts of sunlight. Group plants by how much light they require,
and it'll be easier to care for them.
* Go vertical. Don't discount
the aesthetic value of adding hanging plants or wall-mounted
planter boxes to your container garden. Or, if you're working
on a flat surface, add some height and visual interest by using
small specimen trees and columnar evergreens.
* Know your climate. Keep in
mind that the container gardens on your balcony and deck are
subject to the same temperatures as your traditional garden in
the backyard. In hot climates, for instance, use lighter-colored
containers to lessen heat absorption.
* Pay attention to the soil.
The right soil combination is a critical element to ensure healthy
plants. Add about an inch of peat moss and compost to the soil
in your container garden. The combination of peat moss and compost
loosens heavy soil and adds body to sandy soil while saving water
by absorbing and releasing moisture.
* Vary with veggies. Flowers
are great, but don't be afraid to branch out by adding some vegetables
and specimen plants to the mix. Cherry tomatoes, carrots, beets
and herbs all generally do well in container gardens.
For a fresh alternative to a
traditional garden, dig in to the versatile, vibrant and often
one-of-a-kind feel that container gardens can add to a home or
backyard. |
Refer
