3 Easy Tips for Successful Container Gardening
By admin | November 23, 2008
Here are several tips for creating a wonderful hanging basket or container this summer. The first is to use an artificial soil composed mostly of peat moss. Good soils such as Fafard or Pro-Mix use perlite, peat, and other ingredients to produce a soil that will not compact over the summer. Real garden soil compacts and turns into concrete under the pressure of regular watering. And when it does, plant roots stop growing because they require good open spaces to move into and absorb nutrients. Hard, compacted soils do not grow good plants so do not use real soil in your containers. I re-use my artificial potting soil from year to year. I dump it out of the pot. Chew it up with a shovel to cut up all last year’s roots and add approximately 10 % by volume of compost. The compost increases air spaces and gives plants a boost in healthy nutrition.
Feed your plants weekly. Nitrogen, the engine of plant growth, is water soluble and as you water your containers from the top the dissolved nitrogen is leaving from the bottom. I use a fish-emulsion liquid feed with seaweed to provide all the trace nutrients my plants require and recommend it highly. You can use any liquid plant food (like Miracle Grow or Shultz) to promote growth. Compost tea is the Cadillac of liquid plant food and if you make your own compost tea, your plants will respond with bigger and better blooms as well as increased vigour.
And finally, no matter the size of the container, it is important to soak it all the way to the bottom at each watering. Continue watering until water emerges from the pot bottom. This ensures the roots can reach all parts of the container and grow properly.
Doug Green, an award winning garden author with 7 books published answers gardening questions and gives container gardening advice in his free newsletter at http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com
Tags: container gardening, gardening, GardensContaining Your Garden
By admin | October 28, 2008
I made a discovery. You see, I love flowers and plants, but there is limited yard space where I live, so I thought that I would have to be content with admiring the lush gardens and greenery of others’ gardens. Then I discovered the concept of container gardening.
Well, actually, the concept of container gardening has been there all along - I had just never really thought about it or considered that it could be the answer to my gardening woes. But, once I discovered it, I decided to give it a try, and I am quite pleased with the results.
If you to try container gardening and want your garden to be successful, you should choose good containers for your plants. But how do you know if the container you want to use is right for your plant?
First of all, use your imagination to choose containers for your garden. You can plant in old bathtubs, crocks, barrels, baskets, bowls, wooden boxes, and sacks - just about anything. I’ve even seen someone use an old commode - yuck! However, there are things to consider when you’re trying to choose suitable containers for your plants.
You should avoid choosing containers for your plants that have narrow openings - your plant is already contained, it needs as much room as possible to grow and thrive. You plant does not have access to the soil and room to spread out as much as in a traditional garden, so that means that you should not hinder its growth and development any further if you can avoid it.
Thinking about cheaper plastic pots? Don’t. These cheap plastic containers are more inclined to deteriorate in the sun. And if you’re thinking about terracotta pots for your garden, remember that clay pots dry out in the sun. This means you’ll have to be careful to water as often as necessary and make sure your plants are not getting overheated and drying out.
Glazed ceramic pots are an excellent choice, but often they do not have enough drainage holes in the bottom. So you’ll most likely have to add a few. If this is a problem, you will want to, at the least, add a 1-2 inch layer of gravel at the bottom of the container before adding your soil.
A lot of people like to use wooden containers for their gardens because these containers can be built to specification, but wood can rot easily. So you will want to choose woods that are less susceptible to this problem.
Some types of wood to consider are redwood and cedar. Also, you should be sure that the wooden container you’re using hasn’t been stained or painted - these chemicals are harmful to plants. You should also avoid wood that has been treated with creosote, penta or other toxic compounds - these are also harmful to plants.
When choosing the containers for your garden, size is also something that needs to be considered. Small pots are restrictive to the root system and dry out very quickly. They should only be used with plants that are very small and have shallow root systems.
If you’re growing more plants in your container, generally, you will need a larger, deeper container to compensate. And vegetables with deep roots will require deep pots.
Also, be sure to make sure your tallest plants are not to be more than twice the height of the container. And make note that the plant’s fullness does not spread over the edge of the container more than half the width of the container.
And again, drainage is important. Your containers should have an adequate number of holes to allow for proper drainage. Remember, drainage is hindered when you place your containers on solid surfaces such as concrete floors or brick patios. You can alleviate this problem by elevating your potted plants one or two inches above the floor on blocks of wood or placing them on a plant dolly.
Plant dollies are great for larger containers. They make moving your plants around your patio a breeze. No back problems for you…
Where the weather is very hot (such as the desert), you should choose lighter colored containers to reflect the sun and to prevent your plants from absorbing too much heat and drying out. This also helps to discourage uneven root growth.
If you’re using hanging baskets, line them with sphagnum moss to help retain some water. And keep these plants out of the hot, afternoon sun.
Well, that should get you started if you’re thinking about starting a container garden. Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
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Tags: container gardening, gardening, home gardeningThree Easy Garden Designs You Can Create
By admin | October 22, 2008
Garden No. 1: The Japanese garden.
Creating a Japanese garden is an interesting project because the Japanese garden design depends on symbolism as much as it depends on plant elements.
What is most important for a Japanese garden design is a prevailing notion of simplicity. There are a number of elements that make up a Japanese garden. These gardens often include water, a lantern, an island and a bridge.
A successful Japanese garden will inspire peace and contemplation. To enhance the atmosphere you may like to add a special place for you to sit, and contemplate.
Garden No. 2: The water garden.
Water gardens or aquatic gardens are especially popular because water has always been associated with serenity and peace. Water features in your garden can create a truly atmospheric place.
Water features are normally made up of three features: a pool, aquatic plants (submerged, like the water lily or floating, like the water hyacinth) and fish. Other decorative pieces, such as rocks, can be added and you can even build fountains and waterfalls for extra effect.
Garden No. 3: The English garden.
What is called an “English garden” refers to a style of “informal landscape gardening” that was popular, as the name reflects, in England over the last couple of centuries. There’s a lot of information available on the Internet to tell you what goes into an English garden. Some of the most popular items include a water feature and a sundial.
Whatever style of garden you wish to create please note: plan first. Things that are important to know before you start digging and planting include knowing what types of plants suit your climate. When your plants will flower is also important to know so that you don’t end up with a dull winter full of dormant plants. Water supply is probably the most important things to think about before your start. Speak to an expert about how to build a suitable irrigation system that will keep your plants well fed and keep your workload to a minimum.
Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.creative-garden-design.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.
Tags: container gardening, gardening, landscaping, landscaping ideas, organic gardening, water gardens