Container Gardening - Marion County

Creative Container Gardening

By Dena Tuchman
Master Gardener
Purdue Extension-Marion County

Many of us are eager to simplify our lives. Some move to smaller quarters leaving a mature garden behind. Others are ready to give up the hard labor, but do not want to abandon a rewarding hobby. Gardening, known to reduce stress, offers the opportunity to enjoy nature. Container gardens fit the bill perfectly. Below is your blueprint for low effort/high reward success.

Accessibility

Container gardens, placed at waist or eye level allow you to experience the individual beauty of each plant.

The maintenance is not backbreaking, a plus for those with some degree of disability.

Grouping container plantings on a patio or deck makes watering and care more convenient.

Begin Planning

Consider the location for displaying your container - sun, shade, or somewhere in between, then select plants appropriate to the location. In mixed plantings, choose plants with similar cultural requirements.

Think about a theme:

Color: For color cues, look to your home or outdoor decor, or relate the scheme to the color wheel, using complimentary, analogous, or monochromatic colors.
Texture: Consider the foliage and flower size. A variety of complimentary, but different sizes, colors and textures are most interesting.
Mix it up: Combine perennials, annuals and tropical plants. At the end of the season, move perennials to the garden and tropical plants indoors, if desired. Often, an unexpected combination offers a beautiful unique result.

Create

Now you are ready to begin composing your container. Choose a container that compliments the location, theme and the plant material you have in mind. Be certain the container has ample drainage and never let a pot sit in a saucer of water.

Consider the options in commercial potting soils. Some have moisture-retaining properties, reducing the frequency of watering. Others have slow release fertilizer that may reduce or eliminate seasonal fertilizing. Do not use garden soil in container gardens.

Use odd numbers. A single specimen can look great alone. Mixed containers usually feature a tall focal plant, shorter plants surrounding it, with trailing plants to drape the sides. Plant arrangement depends upon whether the planter is visible from all sides or from only the front. Asymmetrical plantings can also be very attractive and are best if they relate to the container or the view.

Shop for healthy, disease free plant material. Determine how a finished planter will look by combining plant material in various ways. You may revise your design when you see them together and decide to substitute a different plant. This allows for flexible creativity, determines if you have enough of the plant material for the composition, and provides an idea of the overall aesthetic appeal of your design.

When you arrive home, remove the plant material from the containers and tease out the roots if root bound. Stage the planter, and then start planting in the center and work outward. Take care not to place plants too deep or shallow. Allow a 1-inch space between the soil level and the lip of the container. Water your new planter thoroughly and keep it watered as often as needed throughout the growing season.

Crowding, a big no-no in perennial gardening, may work for a one-year container display. A full planting allows for a lush look and thriving plants will fill in if another is inadequate. A big mistake is using too few plants, ending up with a skimpy look. Remember, you can replace non-performing plants or change out plants for seasonal interest.

Enjoy the Results

Planters at waist or eye level effectively display your efforts and are easy to maintain, eliminating bending and stooping to weed or deadhead. Document the plant varieties used, where purchased, and the quantity used in each container. Photograph your compositions throughout the season. Next year, you will be able to identify what worked well, and you will be able to duplicate the perfect creation. Now, get growing!

Questions

Q. How can I minimize back strain when planting containers?

A. Place large planters in their final home to begin planting, or place a planter between your knees while sitting on a step or small, armless child's chair to reduce back strain.

Q. How can I prevent soil from escaping from the hole in the container?

A. Coffee filters make a good liner for the bottom of a container. Dampen before adding soil.

Q. How can I protect my hands when planting?

A. Rubber gloves may protect fingernails from soil better than regular garden gloves.

Q. Where can I learn more about container gardening?

A. Purdue publication HO-126 addresses hanging baskets with information that can apply to non-hanging container gardens as well.

Dena Tuchman is a Master Gardener in Indianapolis. To contact a Master Gardener, call (317) 275-9292, or e-mail: marionmg@purdue.edu

Photo Credit: Dena Tuchman

Photo Composition: Gaura Pink Fountain, Fuchsia Firecracker, Shaeffer Ivy, Trailing Vinca, Double Pink Wax Begonia, Ornamental Sweet Potato Blackie, and Blue Heliotrope

Purdue University, Indiana Counties and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating. An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution.

Container Gardening - Marion County

May 2004