Wide World of Container Gardens
The Wide World of Container Gardening
If you love to garden, but don’t have the space, container gardening is your solution. With a container garden, your choices are endless. Some container gardening ideas use window flower boxes, container vegetable gardening, or ways to create a vertical garden. Container gardening allows you to reap the benefits of harvesting your own semi-dwarf fruits, and vegetables or you can create a serene and beautiful flower garden without a large amount of space.
Container Vegetable Gardening
There is nothing more rewarding than harvesting your own vegetables right from your yard. Many vegetables are well suited for container gardening. To prepare your container vegetable garden, select a spot that gets at least 6 hours of full sun a day. A high-quality potting soil is necessary to successfully grow your vegetables. Choose one that is well draining and contains perlite which will help retain moisture, such as SummerWinds Organic Potting Soil. Water your vegetables daily; you can tell that your plants need water when the top inch of soil is dry. If daily watering is not for you, you can also set up a drip irrigation system. The right fertilizer will also help your vegetables flourish. Depending on the soil you use, you’ll want to fertilize regularly. Garden experts at SummerWinds Nursery can help determine your fertilizing needs. Watch out for pests such as aphids, mites or whiteflies. If you see any of these, spray with an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.
Other Container Gardening Ideas
Use a vertical garden to grow vegetables and other plants. A vertical garden offers a wide variety of possibilities. You can create a vertical garden with felt-like Wooly Pockets, a ladder, an old dresser, shipping pallets, stacked crates and much more. For those that are installed up high or at a difficult location to reach, you can use an automatic gravity irrigation system, such as those sold at the Drip Depot.
If space is at a minimum, you can grow a variety of herbs and flowers in window boxes. These container gardens are typically two feet long and make a perfect home to flowers and herbs such as basil, lemon verbena and chives. Window boxes are easy to maintain, requiring just watering and harvesting.
To learn how to grow herbs indoors, click here.
Container Gardening Isn’t Just for Edibles
Do you have a small space you’d like to grow something beautiful in? A container can be used for a wide variety of non-edible applications, including:
- Custom Creations (potted combinations of plants for a particular location or summer or fall)
- Annuals
- Perennials
- Succulents & Cacti
- Small trees (fruit and otherwise)
Many of the above-mentioned principles and recommendations for growing in pots still apply. Speak with a Trusted Garden Advisor from SummerWinds Nursery to discuss the specifics of your desired container use and location.
Container plants require different watering schedules than those planted in-ground. Click here, to learn more.
Water Container Gardens
A water container garden is a simple way to add movement, texture, and a calming element to a patio, courtyard, or small outdoor space. These miniature “patio ponds” can be created in a variety of containers and planted with aquatic plants such as water lilies, papyrus, water lettuce, or other water-loving plants.
Water gardens can attract dragonflies and birds while creating a peaceful focal point you can enjoy throughout the warmer months. They are also a great option for gardeners who want something a little different from traditional container plantings.
When creating a water container garden, choose a watertight container and place it in a location that receives the appropriate amount of sunlight for the plants you select. Check water levels regularly during hot weather and remove fallen leaves or debris as needed to help keep the water clean.
The Crescent Garden Delano Oval Bowl is one option well suited for patio water gardens, thanks to its wide shape and durable construction. Its 24" x 18" size provides enough room for a variety of aquatic plants while fitting nicely on patios and smaller outdoor spaces. It is available in Caviar Black and Slate finishes.
To learn more about creating and caring for a water container garden, click here.
Whether you’re growing vegetables, herbs, flowers, succulents, or even a small water garden, container gardening offers endless ways to garden in spaces large and small. With the right container, quality soil, proper watering, and plants suited to your environment, you can create a garden that adds beauty, enjoyment, and productivity to your outdoor living space throughout the year. If you have questions about selecting plants, containers, soil, or fertilizers, visit your local SummerWinds Nursery and speak with one of our Trusted Garden Advisors.
