| Container gardens allow people who don't have the | | | | unhealthy. Be sure to keep your container plants |
| space, time or energy for a full garden to still nourish | | | | watered but do not over water. Plants in containers |
| their green thumb and grow beautiful flowers. | | | | can dry out very easily so you will probably have to |
| Container gardens can look beautiful on a rooftop, on | | | | water every day and fertilize every month. |
| a busy city stoop, on a patio or deck and even | | | | When planning your container garden you want to be |
| mixed in with your regular garden. | | | | sure to have plants of varying heights as well as |
| Plants are easy to grow in containers and are a | | | | shapes and textures. Any setting will look better with |
| versatile way of creating a colorful garden. Containers | | | | taller plants in the back and lower ones in the front. |
| are great because you can move your plants around | | | | Using annuals that bloom all year will keep your pots |
| to create different effects. If one plant isn't doing | | | | looking fresh and beautiful, but don't forget to add in |
| well, or the bloom season has passed, simply remove | | | | some nice greenery as well. |
| it and replace it with another container. You can | | | | It's best to decide ahead of time where you want |
| arrange your containers in a group, line them up or | | | | your containers to be positioned, and then buy plants |
| strategically place them singly around your yard or | | | | that suit the situation. It won't do to buy sun loving |
| patio. Either way, you'll love this simple way to create | | | | plants if the container is going to be in the shade for |
| a garden oasis anywhere you want. | | | | they will not do well. Also be aware that some plants |
| You can use most anything for a container, but be | | | | have large root systems and are not suitable for |
| sure it has good drainage. Try old bowls or antique | | | | container planting. |
| urns. If there is no drain hole, be sure to include lots | | | | Some great places for container gardens include the |
| of rocks on the bottom of the container. Terra cotta | | | | patio, deck, driveway and porch. If you have steps |
| pots are nice but tend to absorb water which can | | | | leading up to your front door, an attractive container |
| cause your plants to dry out - if you do decide to go | | | | on each one is a great way to welcome your visitors. |
| with these pots, you can paint the inside with a | | | | If there is a lot of space by your front door group a |
| special sealer to prevent this. Always try to get a | | | | bunch of potted plants off to one side which will be |
| matching saucer or use a special plate or drip basin | | | | more visually appealing than one plant on each side of |
| for your containers as this will save your deck or | | | | the steps. When grouping your plants, always group |
| patio from getting stained or rotting. | | | | in odd numbers and make sure to vary the heights |
| Always use a good quality potting mix in your | | | | and sizes of the pots as well as the plants. |
| containers. This will ensure the best performance | | | | Container gardening is a great because you can limit |
| possible from your plants. | | | | the amount of plants you have to take care of. If |
| When planting in containers, be sure to use a good | | | | you only want a few then just have a couple of |
| potting mix that has fertilizer appropriate for the | | | | containers but if you can handle more than go for it. |
| plant you will be planting. Do not overcrowd the | | | | With a little bit of creativity you can create a |
| plants in the pot - remember that with proper care | | | | container garden that will be the envy of your friends |
| they will grow into the pot and you don't want them | | | | and neighbors. |
| to be overcrowded because they may start to look | | | | |