Container gardening, the latest trend in home gardens, is just
like any other trend: arguably a good idea, yet something people
will eventually look back and ask,
”
What was I thinking?
”
Container gardening, the latest trend in home gardens, is just like any other trend: arguably a good idea, yet something people will eventually look back and ask, “What was I thinking?”
In theory, container gardening can create lovely in-home gardens using brightly colored pots, vases and other containers to grow various flowers and plants. People can bring their home gardens indoors by using these smaller containers, making windowsills, counter space and other nooks the garden’s foundation instead of their back yards.
But like bell-bottomed pants and fluorescent leg warmers, there are definite problems with this trend.
“Yes, (container gardens) look fabulous, but people aren’t using practical plants,” said Caryn Paidl, owner of Paidl Gardens & Accents in Hollister. “They’re putting plants that will want to grow 6-feet tall in tiny little pots. That’s never going to work.”
Plants that are happy to stay small, such as miniature roses and herb gardens, do well in container gardens, Paidl said.
“I’m not a trend person, but if you’re going to try this trend, be careful,” she said. “I’ve seen pictures in magazines that crack me up. It looks really cute, but you give it a year and the plant is going to outgrow the pot.”
Look for plants that nurseries generally sell in six-packs or four-inch pots, said Sheri Deas, an employee at Orchard Supply Hardware’s nursery in Gilroy.
“Use things that aren’t going to get out of control,” she said. “And really pay attention that the plant isn’t getting root bound. If roots are coming out the top of the soil, or you slide the plant out of the pot and the roots are all bound up, you need to cut the roots back or transplant it.”
Window boxes may give plants a bit more room and still give gardeners a stylized look to their plants, Deas said.
Check any window boxes before installing them to make sure they have holes drilled in the bottom for proper drainage. Be aware that water will flow out of these holes after every watering, so make sure nothing below the box will be damaged.
Proper drainage is another consideration when growing container gardens, Paidl and Deas said.
“Not all planters or decorative pots have a drain hole, so if you’ve got a container with no drain hole, don’t over water it,” Deas said. “Or, put a pot with a drain hole inside a decorative container, then take it out and put it in the kitchen sink when you water it, so it will drain well before you put it back in the container.”
Having a plant sit in excess amounts of water is a surefire way to kill it, Paidl said. Also, use quality potting soil rather than using dirt from the back yard when planting.
If trend-style container gardening seems a little too complicated, there are other ways to grow garden in containers without quite as many potential problems, Paidl added.
“I’ve been listening to old-time customers for 20 years, and they know what works,” she said. “You can plant in containers, they’re just bigger containers, and then you can have some of the bigger plants.”
Plants that do well in larger containers include dwarf citrus trees, baser palmatum, anisodontea, daphne odora and alyssum, which will flow down over the pots.
“You can create something really beautiful by having a tall accent in the middle, then alyssum and bacopa down below,” Paidl said. “Practical is the way to go.”
Tips for Creating Beautiful Container Gardens
-Cheap, plastic pots may deteriorate in UV sunlight, and terra-cotta pots dry out rapidly.
-Wooden containers are susceptible to rot.
-Select plants of various heights, shapes and textures to make for an interesting garden.
-Select pot colors to compliment flower colors.
Source: www.gardenguides.com
