Container Gardening Tips

Successful container gardening requires the use of proper soil. Most garden soil is too heavy and will clump together forming a dense, compacted mass. The plant roots will not breath properly. Also, the moisture balance will be difficult to maintain. High clay content soils are also a problem. There are many lightweight mixtures available that are excellent for pots and containers.

Most of them have a large percentage of peat moss in the mix. You can create your own potting mix with equal parts peat moss, sand and garden soil. Compost is also a great choice. If you don't already have a compost pile, look into creating one. Turn your food scraps and yard waste into nutrient rich soil. Read the labels at your garden center or ask for help in choosing the best potting soil mix. This step is crucial for success. Many new products already have fertilizers incorporated into the mix.

Make sure that your plants will have the proper growing conditions. Combine plants that have the same water and sunlight requirements. Try mixing upright and trailing plants for more interesting growth patterns. In sunny locations, your potted plants will dry out faster than they would in the ground. Make sure you are committed to daily, or twice daily watering. Containers in shady areas will hold moisture for longer periods of time. There are many shade loving varieties that thrive in containers. Make sure to read the tag. Don't be afraid to incorporate some perennial plants into your pots. Make sure they have adequate root space and proper moisture. After an entire season in containers, I transfer my perennials into the ground. Some tender bulbs can be left in the pots and brought inside for the winter.

Half the fun of container gardening is finding the right container. Make sure the container will provide ample root space and the proper depth for the plants you will be using. Check to see if your pots have drainage holes in the bottom. If they don't, make sure to drill a few. There's controversy about the use of clay shards, gravel or other materials to help with drainage. Some swear it is unnecessary if the correct soil is used. I always use them. I use whatever I have available. I often place the empty plastic flower containers upside down in the bottom of the pots before adding the soil. Raising the pots slightly off the ground will also help with drainage. You can purchase small clay feet for this purpose.