| Picking
the Right Plant Container
Containers
Container gardening is wonderful! If you have trouble making up your mind
about your garden design, all you have to do is shove a few pots around
and you have a new design. If you want to grow exotic plants in a cold
climate then container planting will let you fool them into thinking they
are right at home in the tropics.
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And if you
like change - containers are about as changeable as you can get. First of
all, you have all kinds of interesting containers, from classic to just
plain wild. Don't limit yourself to only commercial pots. As long as you
can provide adequate drainage, many flea market or garage sale items can
make perfect container gardens. (Tea kettles, wash basins and wheelbarrows
are just a few examples.) And then you have all kinds of great places to
put a container garden - from a tiny balcony to a bare spot in a huge
garden - or even indoors. You can hang them from poles or on walls, or set
them on rolling carts - or even - (dastardly thought) just put them on the
ground!
Finally,
almost anything that can be grown in the ground can be grown in a pot -
and a few things actually prefer being containerized. (Is that a word?)
You can change your floral display seasonally, hide the plants that are
getting tattered around the edges, and generally, with a little slight of
hand and a wee bit of planning, fool people into thinking you actually
know what you're doing.
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Types Of Container Materials
A pot's a pot - right? And it doesn't really matter what it's made of, as
long as it holds dirt - right? Wrong. While all pots will hold plants,
some are better than others, some more attractive than others, and some,
while downright ugly, are indispensable. (You just have to hide them!)
A lot
depends on the climate you live in, because some materials may look strong
and then shatter into a thousand pieces with the first freeze. The kind of
plants you'll be planting may also make a difference, as some like to live
in swampy environments and will want containers that retain moisture;
others prefer to pretend they are in the desert and want pots that
breathe.
And, if you like container gardening because of its portability, a lot
depends on your brute strength. Container materials vary from
featherweights to a tonnage guaranteed to cause hernias.
And then,
of course, there is personal preference. You're going to like the look of
some materials, and hate others. (Your neighbor may have quite the
opposite tastes.) And finally, there is your budget. Some materials are
for champagne budgets only, while others can be as cheap as - well. . .
free!
How To
Select, Prepare, And Maintain Your Containers
The Complete Container Garden
Although
you could just go out and buy a plant and plunk it into whatever container
you have handy, understanding the basics of container selection,
preparation, and maintenance will go a long way toward creating a
successful container garden.
The
material your container is made of not only affects how happy you are with
the total look of your garden but how happy your plants will be growing in
it. The container itself will determine not only how easy your garden is
to maintain but where you can grow things -- on walls, hanging from trees,
or on the ground. A combination of the container type and material will
determine how much maintenance your garden will need -- and how often you
need to water it.
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You will
need to select containers appropriate for the types of plants you want to
grow and for the style of your house and garden design. Once these are
clean and filled with whatever materials will give your plant proper
drainage, they'll make good homes for happy plants.
If you make sure to bring in any containers that can be damaged by
weather, and to keep permanent outdoor containers well mulched and
mounted, you should be ready to enjoy a long-lived and happy garden
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73 Skills To Create Your Dream Garden: Container Planting
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