| In recent years there has been a move towards | | | | get the water underneath and onto the compost. |
| planting up more containers in the garden. At one | | | | These are your babies; they are relying on you for |
| time the only container gardening was the occasional | | | | food and water. It is well worth taking the time and |
| hanging basket. | | | | making the effort, you will be well rewarded. If you |
| More people have transport and more disposable | | | | plant small shrubs in your containers don't forget that |
| income that enables them to visit the big horticultural | | | | you will probably have to make good use of your |
| shows. To see garden designers using containerized | | | | secateurs to keep them in shape and restricted to |
| plants on their stands or small garden plots creates | | | | their allocated space. |
| the desire to copy. Garden makeover programs on | | | | Which containers to use? Your own imagination is |
| television also tend to include a selection of | | | | your limit. There has been a craze to use metal |
| containers. | | | | containers and, yes, in the right context they can |
| If all you have is a small back yard that is paved, | | | | look great. However, if they are in full sun for any |
| hanging baskets and containers can brighten up this | | | | part of the day they will get very hot and by nature, |
| area and totally transform the space if done right. | | | | most plant roots go down into the soil where it is |
| Even with a larger garden, planting up containers | | | | cooler. If you do use them, just make sure they are |
| enables you to move them around to fill places in | | | | well positioned and planted appropriately. |
| your borders when early bulbs or spring plants have | | | | Lastly, most of us like to get away for a week or |
| died back, or in fact where plants have unexpectedly | | | | two in the summer. Anything planted into the garden |
| died off and a temporary solution is required. | | | | soil by and large looks after itself. Containers need |
| The danger is that you plant up one or two | | | | watering. You will need an automatic watering |
| containers for your small space, like the result and | | | | system or an understanding neighbor or friendly |
| get bitten by the bug. Nothing wrong with that apart | | | | family member to do the job. |
| from the fact that containers are high maintenance. | | | | Container gardening can be great fun and very |
| They need watering. Even in the wettest summer | | | | rewarding but before you take the plunge think very |
| months you need to water. The foliage has a | | | | carefully about the ongoing maintenance required. |
| tendency to act like an umbrella so make sure you | | | | |