Container Gardening

If you are like us, over the years you have planted a variety of flowers and plants in your flower beds in order to provide splashes of seasonal colors to your home. Usually, it looks great and very satisfying, however, every so often, you look at your garden, (substitute walkway, patio, porch, deck, driveway, etc.) and think, what else can I do to enhance it or liven it up. This means a trip to the local garden center, a search for something interesting, then a day of digging, moving and replanting. There goes the weekend.

Since I want instant gratification from my efforts, the best answer I have found is to add a few containers to the garden. It only takes minutes to achieve an outstanding display. Whether you use pots, boxes, urns, or stands, a portable container offers the easiest way to create a new accent or focal point for a specific area. This container garden uses mature plants and flowers right out of the pots from your garden center. The fun from this type of gardening is the experimentation and use of your imagination to create a unique arrangement.

Start by thinking of a few advantages of this method of gardening. By using mature, three to six inch potted plants, you can initially arrange the container at the garden center in order to get a better feel for the look you are trying to achieve. It is a trial and error method to get the right look. So, if it doesn’t look right to begin, pick some other flower and plant combinations and keep going until you find it pleasing. Personally, I like to get some colorful, leafy plants and mix in some bright contrasting flowers to compliment the perennials in our garden. But that’s just me. Remember to keep in mind, you are trying to produce an accent or new focus for a certain area and you may want to get plants to contrast rather than compliment the garden. Whatever you do, make sure you buy good healthy plants. Bargains always seem to have problems and need replacement sooner than later.

Since you are working in a limited container space, it is very important you use a good organic composted soil and a wicking material, such as sphagnum moss, as a moisture reservoir to keep the plant roots moist. The plants will last longer when you use a premium soil mix, not just potting soil. Good soil, fertilized on a 1-2 week basis, will promote spectacular growth throughout the seasons. Furthermore, by using a long fiber sphagnum moss, you will have a natural method to supply water and fertilizer to the roots and ensure this growth throughout the year. Every time you water the container plants, the moss absorbs the water along with the soil and works to evenly wick the moisture back to the roots, further enhancing the effectiveness of the soil.

At English Garden Solutions, we offer the home gardener the most versatile way we have found to enjoy a container garden on your deck, porch, patio, walkway, etc. The Babyllon Bowl planter can be used as a stand-alone item or in conjunction with other potted and container arrangements. It is rugged, made of steel and coated with a layer of plastic, so it won't rust and will last many, many years. The open frame steel planter bowl, allows the gardener the option of placing either flowers or plants, horizontally through the slots or vertically within the bowl diameter. This gives you the ability to use a variety of colors and textures to meet the desired environment.

As I mentioned previously, use your imagination and experiment with different flowers and plants in the containers. You will be pleasantly surprised by the results. Have fun!

Add Interest to your landscape, add a Container Garden