Designing a Container Garden

When you are designing a container garden make sure to choose drought tolerant plant if you are a beginner or a gardener on the go. Lantana, verbena, moss roses, zinnias and gazania are more tolerant if you need a forgiving watering schedule.

If you notice poor growth, lack of flowers and pale leaves in your container garden design, the plants need a nutrient boost. To save time and the mess of mixing and applying fertilizer, mix slow-release fertilizer into the soil at planting time.

Don’t forget when designing a container garden to deadhead. It keeps containers looking neat, and plants benefit from removing their spent blooms. Pinch off faded flowers and be rewarded with beautiful flowers all season.

Containers dry out fast, so check daily to see if they need watering. If the top few inches of soil feel crumbly yet slightly damp, it’s time to water. If you live in a hot climate, consider using light-colored containers to lessen heat absorption and always provide drainage holes when designing a container garden. This prevents water from collecting in the bottom of the container which leads to root rot.

Don’t forget to mulch your container. When adding soil to your pot, leave a couple of inches between the top of the soil and the top of the container. By leaving this space you’ll be able to add ½ inch or so of mulch later – which helps retain moisture and keeps the plant’s roots cool.

Follow these tips and designing a container garden will be a breeze. After that all you’ll have to do is sit back and enjoy the beautiful containers you’ve created.