Never let it be said that container gardens are second best to
those gardens on the soil. They may be labor intensive but being as rich
and extravagant as your pocket will allow is their reward. Containers
solve many problems for would-be gardeners. They are the answer to a
paved courtyard or a roof terrace or a balcony. They are an excellent
solution for people who cannot bend easily to dig. A collection of
window boxes can be used as a finishing touch to a house. Whatever the
purpose the choice of containers is enormous.
Ground rules for container gardens that need to be considered are the potting and re-potting of the plants, the work involved in occasionally changing the soil and most importantly you need to consider the watering of the pots. Is there adequate drainage? All containers have to have holes drilled at the bottom for correct drainage. Is there a water supply nearby? Will you be able to use liquid feeds? Watering is by far the greatest chore and it needs to be done regularly and generously. Rain is never enough on its own and a downpour will fool you into thinking the containers are wetter than they really are. It is important to decide whether to plant all year round or whether to let your pots stand empty in winter. Remember that plants that are hardy in the soil might succumb to the cold when their roots are raised in a container that is open to frosts. Frozen water logged soil can also burst containers as it expands. The same can be said for the summer months when the containers get very hot. It is all too easy to bake the roots of the plant.
With all this in mind, choosing your containers and designing your garden is the fun part. There are so many styles of containers. Formal courtyards can be graced with potted bay trees, bamboos or camellias. Some pots are especially beautiful and may look best not potted at all. Stone troughs can be planted as miniature gardens or as screens, but they can also be filled with a carpeting plant as a piece of a living sculpture. Whatever your heart desires, can be brought forth in pots, from a tranquil green to the splashes of vibrant color. The reward for all the hard work is being able to sit and relax in a beautiful garden.
Ground rules for container gardens that need to be considered are the potting and re-potting of the plants, the work involved in occasionally changing the soil and most importantly you need to consider the watering of the pots. Is there adequate drainage? All containers have to have holes drilled at the bottom for correct drainage. Is there a water supply nearby? Will you be able to use liquid feeds? Watering is by far the greatest chore and it needs to be done regularly and generously. Rain is never enough on its own and a downpour will fool you into thinking the containers are wetter than they really are. It is important to decide whether to plant all year round or whether to let your pots stand empty in winter. Remember that plants that are hardy in the soil might succumb to the cold when their roots are raised in a container that is open to frosts. Frozen water logged soil can also burst containers as it expands. The same can be said for the summer months when the containers get very hot. It is all too easy to bake the roots of the plant.
With all this in mind, choosing your containers and designing your garden is the fun part. There are so many styles of containers. Formal courtyards can be graced with potted bay trees, bamboos or camellias. Some pots are especially beautiful and may look best not potted at all. Stone troughs can be planted as miniature gardens or as screens, but they can also be filled with a carpeting plant as a piece of a living sculpture. Whatever your heart desires, can be brought forth in pots, from a tranquil green to the splashes of vibrant color. The reward for all the hard work is being able to sit and relax in a beautiful garden.
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