Container Gardening 101

Container Gardening[/caption] Gardening is a great way to make any outdoor space come alive. There are simple yet effective gardening methods to give your home an elegant, organized, and charming touch. Gardening doesn’t have to be expensive and you don’t need a large home to begin a gardening project. Many do it yourself gardening projects today are simple enough that they can be incorporated into any home size, even if you live in a small apartment. If you live on a budget or not, you will find container gardening as an attractive technique to add a hint of charm to any space, both large and small, in your home. Beginning a container gardening project is simple following these easy steps:

1. Pick your container : -  Picking a container with a drain hole is important. If you decide to choose a container that is closed, it should be a material that can be drilled into. Whiskey barrels are a popular choice for containers. They are durable and long lasting. Other containers such as bird cages, wheel barrows, tool boxes, wooden crates, even rusting food cans can serve as creative containers that you can easily move around your home. The fun part is you can be as creative as you want. If you wish to include several plants, assess and make sure the container is large enough to accommodate them. If the container is deep, you can include rocks in the bottom or other fillers to help drain the water and it won’t require too much soil.

2. Soil Prudently: - Soil is another important element of gardening. Plants thrive in good soil. There are good selections you can find to get a good mix of soil such as Miracle Grow. If you are growing herbs and edible plants, you especially want to use organic compost. It is easy to make and there are many online resources that show you how to make it in your own home. You can visit your local nursery or garden store and find compost ready to buy.

3. Choosing your plants:- This is the fun and creative part of the gardening process. A smart investment is purchasing perennials. Perennial plants come back every year which means you won’t have to continue purchasing new plants each spring time. If this is your first time at gardening, avoid growing your garden from seeds. The list of perennials include: Daffodils, Snapdragon, Perennial carnations, Primroses, Aster, Bleeding heart, Heuchera to name a few.

4. Include edible plants: -Herbal plants are a great addition to container gardens and make beautiful arrangements to your gardens. Herbs usually grown best in containers and are much easier to manage when placed in containers. Often times, certain herbs can grow out of control if not properly managed. Containers allow you to properly maintain them and are easily accessible. If you are contemplating adding herbal plants, here are some to consider:  Sage, Oregano, Chamomile, Mint, Chives, and Rosemary.

5. Arranging your Plants: -Once you’ve picked out your plants, next you want to decide where to position your plants. You may want to place tall plans in the back or in the center so that they don’t block and shade the smaller plants. This way, they can serve as a focal point. Then, you can place mid -level plants inside.

As you get ready to remove the plants from their original plastic container, squeeze the bottom plastic container lightly so the soil inside becomes loose. This way, you can avoid tugging hard on the stems as you pull it out from its container. Water them after you’ve planted them in your container.