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If there’s one great equalizer of gardening, it’s containers. Not
only do they accent decks and patios beautifully, they’re also a perfect
way to create surrogate gardens for those who have small yards or no yards at
all. However, just because anyone can grow a container garden doesn’t mean
there isn’t a right way to do it.
In fact, the rules for growing a “garden in a can” are quite different
than those for growing gardens on the ground. Here’s how to get it right.
Step One
Success is dictated as much by what you can’t see as it is by what you can.
Translation: start with high-quality potting soil. Without it, roots can’t
grow properly. When roots aren’t doing their job, it’s impossible
for leaves and flowers to do theirs. Now, I know this will sound like an exercise
in semantics, but roots don’t actually grow in soil; they grow around it.
Therefore it’s the pore spaces in potting soil that are critical for root
growth.
When you buy good potting soil, what you’re investing in is peat moss, perlite,
compost and other components that provide a matrix of pore spaces. The right combination
of these high-quality ingredients creates an ideal blend of both small and large
pore spaces that will allow air to infiltrate the soil. Oxygen enables roots to
grow and explore the labyrinth of soil particles. Pore space also provides tiny
storage compartments essential for holding water and nutrient reserves. So really,
as odd as it sounds, when you buy potting soil, the most important ingredient
you’re buying is nothing more than air.
Step Two
Just as one should never compromise on soil quality, neither should one compromise
on soil quantity. That means err on the side of choosing a large pot whenever
possible. It’s amazing how quickly the roots of plants stuffed in a small
container can serpentine through soil pores and take up every bit of available
space. Once the roots run out of space, the entire plant runs out of gas, which
is why I grow my deck plants in a few large pots rather than in many small ones.
Just remember that whatever the size of pot, it has to drain properly. Saturated
potting mixtures will drown roots in a short time, so make sure your containers
have at least one good-size bottom drainage hole.
Step Three
Never compromise on plant quality. Because container gardens are often viewed
at eye level, inferior transplants will really stand out. Remember the adage “garbage
in, garbage out.”
It applies to plants, too.
As for what varieties to choose, most people like a combination: a few trailers
to cascade down the pot, something tall to create height at the centre or back,
and some good spreaders to fill in the rest. The sky really is the limit. Just
make sure your plants have similar light and watering requirements.
Step Four
Fertilize. Container plants need extra food to look great all season long, so
I use a pinch of 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer every time I water. It keeps
my plants well fed and wards off that pallor that shows up on leaves around midsummer.
Now that you know the basics, there’s no reason to be without your very
own piece of nature.
In fact, that may be the raison d’être of container gardens. Whenever
we inadvertently wander too far away from Mother Nature, container gardens ease
the gap. But just remember: while containerized plants are happy to provide us
with comfort and enjoyment, they do their best work when we give them proper breathing
room.
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If you have a short growing season, count on fast, splashy performers such as
rudbeckia, dahlias and petunias.
