Container garden

This is ideal for gardening beginners and small spaces; you can grow a mix of flowers and foliage in containers, and create an entire garden.

The main advantage to this type of gardening is control; you can choose the right soil, exposure and conditions. It is possible to create an entire garden with potted plants, so having a small garden is no excuse!

Choosing your container

Planter boxes, wooden barrels, hanging baskets and large flowerpots are just some of the containers that can be used for your container garden. Here are some guidelines to consider when choosing your container.

Avoid

• Containers with narrow openings.
• Cheap plastic pots, as they will weaken in the sunlight.
• Terracotta pots will dry out rapidly
• Wooden containers, as they are prone to rot.
• Wooden containers that have been chemically treated with creosote or similar, as the vapours can damage the plants.

Recommend

• Glazed ceramic pots are great for container gardening as they are strong, but don't forget, they will require several drainage holes.
• Redwood or Cedar pots, without the aid of staining or painting, are fairly rot resistant.
• The size of the container required, will be determined by the size and number of plants to be grown in it. A pot too small will reduce the root area and dry out very quickly, so, for example, deep rooted vegetables will require deeper pots.
• You could even put your imagination to the test and find a fun and unique planter. Rummage around the house and at garage sales for interesting objects that. with the addition of soil and drainage holes could have a new life as a planter. You might use old shoes, baskets, wheelbarrows, wooden crates, even washtubs. Bricks can be stacked up together in a box shape and filled with soil for an instant planter. See what you can find; save spending on new planters and leave more for those essential plants.

Potting mixture

Your planting medium is very important; it must drain easily but retain enough moisture to keep the roots evenly moist. Compost makes an excellent potting soil, but always check your plants requirements.

Getting started

You'll need at least 1/2 an inch drainage holes within your container. Make sure you line the base of the pot with newspaper, to prevent any soil loss. Then, place your containers on bricks or blocks to allow for easier drainage.

If you're using hanging baskets; line them with moss for water retention and avoid placing them in direct sunlight.

If you're using clay pots; monitor them closely for loss of moisture, as clay is very porous. When adding your soil, leave a 2 inch space between the top of the soil and the top of the container. This will leave you the option of adding mulch later.

Maintenance

In general, your containers will thrive from 5 hours of direct sunlight a day. Diluted liquid fertilizer is recommended with every other watering, as potting mixes drain quickly. However, lighter mixes will require more frequent fertilizing than heavier mixes.

Make sure you check the moisture of your soil to determine how often it will need watering. This will be determined by its location and the weather.