Container Gardening Basics For Success

Container Gardening is becoming more and moreYou can mix your own potting soil by using one part
popular as the population of cities and suburbscompost; one part perlite and one part garden loam.
increases. Your "garden" is movable and so it is easierBe sure that you inspect the loam for pests before
to manage pests and garden environments. It alsousing it.
reduces the time that you need to tend to yourChoose plants that do not have very large root
plants because you can place them where they aresystems. Those plants will soon get too large for the
easier for you to reach. This is especially good forpot that you have planted them in, even to the point
people who are handicapped but still want a garden.of breaking it. As I mentioned before, not sizing the
There are some things that are necessary in order toplant to the pot (or the pot to the plant), can cause
have a successful container garden.plants to be spindly and root-bound.
First, you must have a container. You can find themTomatoes are a good choice for a new gardener
in almost every size, shape and they can be made ofbecause they are easy to grow and have a strong,
many different materials. And, they can be verybut small, root system. Other vegetables that are
inexpensive, especially when you create them fromappropriate are peppers, lettuce, spinach, radishes
"found" objects. You must make sure that theand eggplant.
container that you choose has adequate drainage.Herbs are also an excellent choice for container
Make sure that your container is appropriate for yourgardens. Herb gardens don't require much space and
plant's full-grown size. You don't want to have tothey are extremely easy to grow, even for the
keep changing pots as your garden grows.novice gardener. Like most plants, they do require
Soil is the next thing you have to have for youradequate drainage to grow them successfully.
garden. I'm sorry, but you can't go outside and dig upSome people use container gardens as decorating
some dirt. It will be much too heavy and will probablyaccents as well as for growing vegetables for the
contain lots of bugs and pests that you don't need.dinner table. Choosing containers that fit with the
The soil must be of good quality to keep your plantsstyle of the area you want them in enhances its
healthy and growing well. Buy potting mix that drainsambiance. You might even want to use them in a
well but still is able to retain adequate moisture. Thespecific area inside your home. Sunrooms come to
mix shouldn't be so light that it won't hold the plantmind as a great place to grow plants. Do make sure
and root system in the container without proppingthere is adequate sun and shade for your plants.
the plant up.