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HomeTopics...Garden TypesContainer Garden
Container Gardening: A Garden for Any HomeMany people envision weekend mornings with coffee and a newspaper amidst a patio of beautiful blooming and fragrant plants. The problem is that in most cases, people do not want to spend their weekend afternoons tending to those blooming and fragrant plants. For city dwellers and busy suburbanites alike, a traditional garden simply requires too much space, time, and money. For those with the dream and not the means, container gardens are the ideal solution.
While patio container gardens require considerably fewer resources than the traditional garden, they do need to be properly thought-out. A successful container garden will have plants in appropriately sized containers and will provide adequate sunlight, drainage, soil, water, and plant food. However, with just a little homework and set-up time, a container garden can be enjoyed in a matter of hours.
Requirements of a Container GardenThe very first thing that container gardeners must consider is exactly what kind of garden they are seeking to create. Obviously, considerations such as space, exposure to light and elements such as rain are crucial. Is the space available limited to a small location like a balcony or patio and, if so, how much sunlight does the area get? Perhaps a small patio or backyard area can be transformed into that special spot.
Regardless of the selection of the site, your container garden will require at least five hours of sunlight. If you plan to grow vegetables in your garden, you should make certain that sufficient sunlight is available; certain vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers require a lot of sun while root vegetables, such as carrots, require less.
Choosing the Container for Your Container GardenThe selection of the type of container is limited only by the imagination of the gardener. Traditional pots can give way to flower boxes, wine crates, half barrels, old boots, tires, a child's wagon—anything that can hold a plant medium and water.
Small containers tend to dry out root systems though, so a minimum capacity of fifteen quarts is recommended. Of course, this is not to rule out the traditional terra cotta pots we all know, but as the old adage goes, "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow," and those oaks do need room. Drainage and color are two other areas that must be emphasized in container gardening. Light-colored containers do best in warmer climates, and all containers should have drainage holes to permit adequate flow. Lining the container with newspaper can encourage drainage while preventing soil loss.
Choosing Soils and Fertilizers for Your Container GardenThe types of soils and fertilizers you use for container gardening are as critical to its success as the containers themselves. Obviously the type of garden (flower, herb, vegetable, grass) plays a large part in what plant medium should be selected, however, some basics have universal application.
Soil: Many excellent potting soil mixes are specially balanced for the various types of plants one might use in a container garden. Many of these also contain wetting agents to help the soil retain water and aid in planting and future watering. A growing variety of "soil-less" mixes have been developed to help the home gardener fight off soil-borne diseases and insects.
Fertilizer: Regardless of the type of soil chosen, container gardeners should choose fertilizers carefully. Since containers tend to drain the soil rapidly, fertilizers are often washed out of the container long before they can benefit the plant. Liquid fertilizers should be used, preferably at every other watering. Know the moisture requirements of the plants you're placing in your container garden so you can match moisture to the kind of nutrients required. Creating the Container GardenThe most personal choice in creating any garden, let alone one in a limited space, is the selection of the plants that will grow there. While this would seem a purely emotional selection, deciding how your garden will look involves several considerations.
The Atmosphere: First and foremost is what kind of feel do you want it to have? Will this be a place of bright exuberance marked by the colors of petunias, impatiens, periwinkles, and geraniums? You might prefer a spot for quiet contemplation with bonsai trees, small ferns, ornamental grasses and a desktop fountain or perhaps something both beautiful and functional like an herb garden containing basil, fennel, oregano, and mint that is at home on windowsills, flower boxes and in small planters. The choices and varieties are almost endless. The key is to select one and begin. As with many other areas of life, in gardening, the hardest step is the first step.
The Commitment: Of equal importance is a consideration of how much time the container garden will require to thrive and, realistically, how much time the gardener has to give. Plants have various requirements and demand varying amounts of attention. Before beginning, the gardener should be honest with him or herself, "How much time do I have to spend making these plants grow?" This is not to say that a busy person cannot have the beauty of a garden. If you find that your time is limited, then choose plants that don't require much care. Conversely, if your garden is your hobby and it's a place where you plan to spend much of your free time, then those plants that require more attention can be considered.
For more on container gardening, read about Courtyard & Patio Gardens.
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