I don't have a lot of land in the front of my home and there is a bare area near the entry that needed some color and glamor. I went to tag sales and picked up many different used pots to plant in. I used different objects that would give me assorted levels. You can use old step stools, baskets, bricks, anything you can find to create a variety of elevations. I planted the pots in front with a colorful assortment. In no time at all I had the neighbors coming over to admire the beauty of nature.
I love gardening. I have been planting a lot more perennials lately as we are retired and gone quite a bit during growing season. I also do a lot of container gardening. Hope you like my pictures. The flowers on the fence is one plant. It is a Fall Clematis. Very hardy and smells wonderful.
Always cure a new terra cotta pot before planting in it. Otherwise, the pot's sides will draw moisture out of the potting soil and possibly even the plant's root ball.
I like to put figurines in and around the pots in my container garden - to fill in bare spots and to generally liven up the garden. You can find good deals in slightly damaged figures -in proportion to your pots/plants. . .
A friend of mine with a truck who makes a fair living recycling curb-side cast offs began finding older heavy plastic Car-top Luggage Carriers.
I am looking for a thrifty way to container garden my vegetables this year. Any ideas?
Jennifer
HI :)
Alot of people in this area use drywall mud or industrial paint buckets... wash them very well and poke holes in the bottom for drainage... fill 1/4 of the way with stones or something to allow good drainage...
Freecycle.org. You can request for items there. I got a container through it for gardening.
I read somewhere instead of using stones in the bottom, to use packing peanuts. They are much lighter!
I used paint buckets with holes drilled in the botton for the second year in a row and absolutely love the results. I have had tomatos all summer (the ones the squirells dont get first) and they work great!
I have a lot of shells from previous beach trips (my kids loved to collect when they were little). I have used them in the bottom of containers for drainage.
There is a recycling program in our city, so the gardenning centers tosses used pots in bins. When I go grocery shopping i raid the bin in that store's gardenning center. I've bought few pots. Keep worms in a bin and feed them vegetable kitchen waste.
Since my container garden is on the front of my house because it gets more sunlight there, I thought it would look better if all the containers were the same. I bought dollar store waste baskets, drilled holes in the bottoms, used packing peanuts for drainage, and filled with soil. I have grown tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, and herbs like sage, basil, mint, parsley and chives. This was my 5th year using these containers.
has anyone grown vegetables all year in containers...I wanted to plant lettuce, spinach, tomatoes and cucumbers in containers and grow them this winter in my attic. It's chilly there but the sun is great. There's nothing better than fresh vegetables. Would love to be able to do this...any suggestions would be appreciated.
has anyone grown vegetables all year in containers...I wanted to plant lettuce, spinach, tomatoes and cucumbers in containers and grow them this winter in my attic. It's chilly there but the sun is great. There's nothing better than fresh vegetables. Would love to be able to do this...any suggestions would be appreciated.
This was my favorite planting last summer. I enjoyed all of the vibrant colors mixed together. The mix contains geraniums, begonias, a blue salvia, petunia, and dahlia, with 2 spikes for interest.
Our Province is in a severe drought, so we have many flowers in pots and planters.
Although I could plant more in the ground, I am a container gardening freak and I love the control that it gives me. There's far less weeding, and I love that the plants are (generally) portable.
I'm interested in hearing people's experiences/tips about container gardening.
If the soil in your potted plants is hard and water has a hard time penetrating, poke holes in the soil with a pointed stick. then fill your water pail and add 1-2 drops liquid dish washing detergent.
Is plaster of Paris used in outdoor things like putting it in the bottom of a planter for weight, or is concrete better?
By Jane Smith from Bonifay, FL
Polymer crystals (found in garden centers and some variety stores) are a tiny crystal that expands in water to hold up to 200 times its weight in stored water.
