Tag Archives: preparation

Gardening

Top 10 List of Tips for Container Gardening Using Garden Pots

Leave a comment

Container gardens have been around for quite some time and are gaining in popularity. In many instances, such as high-rise or apartment living, the only option for a garden is to place your plants in garden pots. Here is a short list of considerations on using garden pots in your own garden:

1. Choose the Proper Material

Garden pots are made from a large variety of materials, like clay, plastic and stone. Some of these materials are more durable than others and some more stylish. How you will use the pots will help you narrow down the options.

2. As a Matter of Fact, Size Does Matter

If you know what plants you will be using in your garden, the kind of plant will help determine how big the garden pot will be. For instance, small trees require much larger pots to allow for their root systems.

3. Vary the Pot Sizes

If you want your garden to “pop”, then vary the sizes of the pots (and plants) you use. Scale your pots so the farther back they are, the larger they get.

4. Grouping Your Garden Pots

If you place your pots in groups with smaller and mid-sized pots around a single large pot, you will add a lot of interest and a great focal point at the same time.

5. Select Plants That You Put In A Pot That Require The Same Amount of Water

This may seem obvious, but you shouldn’t group a cactus requiring little water with a fern requiring daily watering.

6. Select Plants That You Put In A Pot That Require The Same Amount of Sunlight

Pots left in direct sunlight dry up very quickly because of their small size. Try to place them where they get some shade at least part of the day.

7. Pick Hardy Plants That Don’t Need Much Water

Since pots are relatively small, they tend to dry up pretty fast. Choosing plants that require less water will make your container garden easier to maintain and will also be more forgiving.

8. Good Drainage Is Key

Most pots come with drain holes in them. If they don’t you will have to drill them yourself. Over the hole, place either a couple of layers of newspaper or a piece of broken pot to allow for drainage but keeping the soil from spilling out the bottom.

9. Add a Water Sealant to Terracotta Pots

Terracotta makes a great material for pots, but they tend to soak up quite a bit of the water intended for your plants. Brush on a water sealant to the inside of the pot to keep this from occurring.

10. Potting Soil

Its always best to use a good potting soil in your pots. They are specially blended just for this purpose so they are light weight and they have better water holding capabilities.

Before you purchase any garden pot for your garden, visit Keith Maiden’s web site: All Garden Pots for more information on container gardening.

Related Blogs

Gardening

Have Your Own Successful Container Garden With Garden Pots

Leave a comment

With some basic gardening skills, you can ensure a successful container garden. Starting with the containers themselves, make sure that any garden pots made from porous materials (such as terracotta or wood) are sealed on the inside with a quality water sealant. Otherwise, the pots will soak up much of the water meant for your plants.

Proper Watering

It is just as important not to over water as it is not to underwater. Most garden pots will have a saucer or bowl underneath to catch any extra water and keep it from rotting your patio or deck. The best way to water your container garden is by filling the saucers up with water. This helps you avoid over watering and the water from spilling over the top of the saucer. The water will seep up through the hole in the bottom of the pot feeding the roots of your plants.

Another method of watering is to water your plants at the surface. If you do, however, make sure you fill about a cup at a time and watch how much water ends up in the saucer. You want to avoid overfilling the saucer. Spraying your plants with water from a hand sprayer is always welcome by your houseplants. Try to avoid using hard water though so calcium won’t build up on the leaves.

Plant Food

Since pots are generally small, the nutrients in most potting soils don’t last much more than five or six weeks. Therefore, you will need to replenish the soil with vital nutrients. Plant food generally comes in liquid or granular forms. Slow-release granules are recommended as they last a long time and keep a steady supply of food going to the plants.

Keeping Control Of Pests

The two main types of insecticides are Systemic and Contact. Systemic works by pouring the insecticide onto the soil. It is then absorbed through the root system then up through the plant. This works best for pests under the soil and for leaf eating bugs as they ingest the poison.

The other type, contact insecticide, is sprayed directly on the pests. You may need to repeat this method depending on how much infestation there is but contact insecticides work rather quickly.

You are sure to have a thriving container garden with a small amount of monitoring and loving care.

David Haines has been working in gardens since his early childhood and has always been interested in educating others regarding gardening and landscaping techniques. If you’d like to know more about container gardening, visit AllGardenPots.com

Related Blogs