Container Gardening and Planters are not just for Christmas

You know the saying "A puppy is not just for Christmas". The same can be said for containers and planters.

There is such a range of planters available to gardeners, which is not surprising when you take into account the trend towards planting up more containers in the garden. At one time the only container gardening was the occasional hanging basket and window box planters.

Many more of than ever before have transport and more disposable income that enables us to visit the large horticultural shows for container gardening ideas. Seeing garden designers using containerised plants on their stands or small garden plots gives us the desire to copy. Television garden makeover programs always seem to make use of containers.

For anyone who only has a small back yard that is paved, hanging baskets and containers can brighten up and totally transform the space.

For those with a larger garden, planting up containers enables you to move them around to fill places in your borders when early bulbs or spring plants have died back, or in fact where plants have unexpectedly died off and a temporary solution is required.

Container gardening should come with a health warning. When you plant up one or two containers for your small space and love the result you will have the desire for more and more. There is nothing wrong with that apart from the fact that containers are high maintenance. They need watering. Even in the wettest of summer months they need you to provide water. The foliage has a tendency to act as an umbrella so you must make sure you get the water underneath the foliage and onto the compost. These are your babies and they rely on you for food and water. You will be rewarded for your care and kindness. If you plant small shrubs in your containers you will probably have to make good use of your secateurs to keep them in shape and restricted to their allocated space.

Outdoor garden planters come in all shapes, sizes, colours and materials. Your imagination is the only limiting factor. There has been a craze to use metal containers and, yes, in the right context they can look great. However, if they are in full sun for any part of the day they will get very hot and by nature, most plant roots go down into the soil where it is cooler. If you do use them, just make sure they are well positioned and planted appropriately.

Most of us like to get away for a week or two in the summer. Anything planted into the garden soil by and large looks after itself. Containers need watering. Keep potted plants from drying out by installing an automatic watering system or employ the services of an understanding neighbour or family member.

Designing a container garden is not too difficult it just need a little thought.

Decorative planters and plant stands add to the effectiveness of the scheme. There is quite a selection of plants for container gardening available.

If you are considering a herb container garden plan with care. Give some herbs the right condition and they will romp away and smother their companions. What could be nicer than picking fresh fruit from a strawberry planter!

Container gardening can be great fun and very rewarding but before you take the plunge think very carefully about the ongoing maintenance required.

Not found what you are looking for?

Custom Search