Earthly Garden

The Plant: What’s the proper plant for a container garden? Fortunately, anything goes. Trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, herbs, vines-just about anything can grow well in a proper container. Some plants do best in full, hot sun. Others thrive in the shade. Be sure to pick plants to match where you want to place your containers and to group similar plants together. Sun or shade? You have got to know this before you do any plant selecting. Also consider a plant’s rate of growth: Try to avoid mixing slow-growing and aggressive plants. When choosing plants for your container, be creative. Consider a bamboo plant or Japanese maple for the patio (but, be ready to bring it indoors come winter). For color through the seasons, pair early season plants with those that thrive into the summer and fall. With vegetables, for instance, plant lettuce or spinach around the outside of the pot and a tomato plant or green beans on a trellis or tripod in the middle. For flowers, combine early bloomers with late bloomers.

The Pot: If you plan to keep you containers out over the winter, choose your containers wisely. Glazed pottery and concrete are popular choices. Those made of resign plastic and wood are also good options; check for labeling that says its frost-proof. For portability, look for containers on wheels or small, decorative potholders on wheels. More important than the materials, however, is the size. If the pot’s too small, it stresses the pant and there isn’t enough room for the roots. Always go larger than you are thinking. Additionally, drainage holes in the bottom of your containers are imperative. Drainage holes are the secret in all successful planters… There should be drainage holes drilled in the bottom of each container. This allows airflow and drainage for the roots. If the container does not have holes drilled in the bottom, it is wise to plant the plant inside a plastic pot and drop the plastic container inside the ‘attractive’ container.

The Soil: When it comes to soil, the old saying that you get what you pay for is very true, especially with containers. All potting soil is not the same. If you pay $2 for a bag, don’t expect the plants to be responsive. Pay $7 or $8 a bag, and the plants will perform 100 percent better. The best potting soil should be bark-or peat-based and combined with worm castings, mycorrhizae fungi and beneficial soil microbes, at the very least. Additionally, potting soil is designed to help retain water and should not be combined with clay ground soil. When combined, the soil will not drain well, causing plants to rot very quickly. (BHG 08)