No matter what plants you choose to put into your container garden, following these tips will help make growing them more successful.
- Start with high quality potting soil. Pick one that is light and air, comprised of peat moss, pine bark, and vermiculite or perlite. It should hold nutrients and moisture but drain quickly so roots don’t become waterlogged.
- Fertilize plants at a lighter rate, more frequently than in ground plants. The roots of potted plants do not have access to the same quantity of nutrients in the ground, so they will need to be fed more often for optimum growth.
- Keep a close eye on moisture needs. Containers dry out more quickly and will need to be watered more frequently to keep plants from going into drought stress.
- Move containers when necessary to give plants ample light, while protecting them from the harsh, direct sun and heat in the hottest part of the day. As the season changes and plants grow they may begin to shade out other, shorter plants. Putting heavy potted plants on plant caddies will make rearranging plants much easier and quicker to accomplish.
- There are plenty of plants to choose from when selecting what to put in your container garden. Mix and match colors, varieties and plant heights to create visual interest in your space and then follow basic rules of container gardening to increase your success.
