Search Articles

Back To Articles Home

 

Featured Articles

• Growing Frangipani Trees

• Growing Fruit Trees

• Veggie Garden - Build Your Own

• Growing Tomatoes

• Contractors, Subcontractors, and Employing Them

Container Gardening

Do you have a small garden or simply wish to have more flexibility in your garden?  Try container gardening – where you can have a whole garden just in pots!  Read on to find out more.

What is Container Gardening?

Container gardening is when you exclusively grow plants in containers or pots rather than planting them in the ground.  This can be for ornamental purposes but it is also a great option if the soil in your area is unsuitable for the plants that you wish to grow.

Types of Containers

There is a huge range of containers available that you can use for your container garden – from the traditional pots, to items that you find such as wheelbarrows, teacups and urns.  As long as you can add drainage to it, you should be able to turn it into a pot.  Keep practical considerations in mind, though.  One of the reasons for having a container garden is portability so you do not want containers that are too heavy to move.

Plants that can be used in Container Gardens

You are practically only limited by your imagination when it comes to selecting plants for your container garden, as there is an absolutely massive range available.  Some types of plants that you could use are:

• conifers
  
• ferns
  
• flowering plants
  
• foliage plants
  
• native plants
  
• vegetables
  
• herbs
  
• fruit trees
  
• climbing plants
  
• small trees

Benefits of Container Gardens

Container gardens have many benefits.  For starters, having your plants in containers means that there is significantly less risk of soil-borne disease.  Weed problems are virtually eliminated, and the ability to move your plants means that you have more control over the amount of moisture and sunlight that they receive, as well as the temperatures that they are subjected to.

Container gardens are also very flexible, allowing you to have plants in situations where it would be otherwise awkward or impossible.  Container gardens are also very mobile, allowing you to change the layout of your garden whenever you wish, or even take the garden with you when you move – absolutely perfect for renters!

Arranging your Container Garden

When you are arranging your container garden, be creative.  Try using a feature point to create a focal point amongst your other pots, or group pots according to their size in order to create different heights and colours in your container garden. 

It is a good idea to buy containers that are not too decorative, as you do not want to take the focus away from the plants’ flowers or foliage.  However, remember that the container you use should dictate the type of plant that goes in it.  A plain pot should have a very decorative plant in it, while a decorative pot should have a relatively simple plant in it so that the plant does not detract from the pot’s ornamental features.

Planting your Container Garden

Once you have the containers and the plants, the next step is to begin planting the container garden.  When it comes to planting in pots, it is important that the top of the root ball, and hence the final soil level, is a few centimetres below the rim of the pot in order to give the water room to soak in.  Also ensure that the stem is not buried or in contact with soil otherwise it will rot.

One of the most common problems with pot plants is that the soil dries out easily and eventually becomes hard and water repellent.  To rejuvenate a plant that has a shrunken root ball, plug the drainage holes in the pot and water the plant very thoroughly.  Leave the pot for several hours to allow the water to penetrate fully before removing the plug to allow the remaining water to drain through.

Never grow a small plant in a large pot.  The topsoil in the container needs to be removed down to the level of the roots regularly and replaced with fresh potting soil.  Water your plants twice a day in summer, and less often in the cooler months.  A good guide as to whether the plant needs watering is to stick your finger in the potting mix.  If it is dry, add water.  If it is moist, it is best to leave it alone.