| For years people have been gardening in containers, | | | | geraniums in the center and placed trailing ivy along |
| mostly because they lacked space. For some it was | | | | the outer edges. Not only did it help our friends find |
| because they lived in climates that wouldn't allow | | | | us but the whole neighborhood used it when giving |
| them to grow year round. Container gardens afford | | | | directions to their friends and family. Everyone would |
| you the option of planting outside until the cold | | | | come up to us and say, "Never move that pot of |
| forces the container inside, next to a sunny window. | | | | flowers, it's our favorite landmark." |
| Most container gardens were planted by people that | | | | Don't limit yourself to a barrel, anything can be used, |
| lived in apartments but still wanted the addition of | | | | a watering can, an urn or big boldly colored ceramic |
| color and the feeling of accomplishment when seeing | | | | pots, even a wheelbarrow. Use your imagination |
| their plants grow. Big, beautiful showy flowers have a | | | | when it comes to the containers you will plant. A |
| tranquil effect that soothes you at the end of a long | | | | friend of mine would go to the Italian restaurants |
| day. Container gardening need not be limited to | | | | around town and ask them for their used large olive |
| apartment gardening, everyone should have their | | | | oil cans. She'd take them home and plant a bunch of |
| own. Most certainly you don't have to stick to | | | | mini gardens. This created an interesting and colorful |
| flowers in containers. You can grow vegetables and | | | | spot unlike any in the neighborhood. She would plant |
| herbs in pots. | | | | herbs in some of them so this little garden had two |
| By adding garden pots it allows you to put spots of | | | | uses. |
| color around green shrubs or trees to brighten any | | | | For container gardening use a fast draining potting soil |
| corner of your yard. Placing containers filled with your | | | | mixed with a little coarse sand. I always use pots |
| favorite flower adds loads of appeal to a walkway or | | | | with holes in the bottom to ensure good drainage. |
| paved patio. The fun part of that is you can rotate | | | | You may know exactly how much to water the |
| the pots to different locations adding a new looks or | | | | plant but if you have a rainy spell it could be the |
| colors with every move. Putting autumnal colored | | | | demise of the mini garden that has no drainage |
| Mums in pots or spring tulips in a container allows you | | | | system. Fertilize well and often, nutrients in a |
| to landscape by season keeping your garden bright | | | | container can leech out. |
| and interesting. | | | | Repotting will be necessary as the plants will become |
| Your container can become a mini garden. For | | | | root bound as they thrive. Just go to the next size |
| example when we lived in Pennsylvania our front | | | | container and plant a new flower or herb in the |
| yard screened us from the road with 10 feet tall | | | | original pot. |
| evergreens. Although it was good for privacy, it | | | | Go to your garden nursery center and look thru the |
| made it very hard for guests to find our house. To | | | | selections. Choose plants that will harmonize and |
| fix this problem I purchased a half of a whisky barrel | | | | colors that go well together. Container Gardening is |
| painted our name and street number on it and placed | | | | fun and easy and a great way to show off your |
| on the lawn at the end of the driveway. Then I filled | | | | handiwork. |
| it with some organic matter, planted bright red | | | | |