Gardener's love this time
of year & even the first timers want to dig in and plant something
beautiful for the summer. Container gardens are the perfect way to brighten up
any space. I have lots of space to plant, but it's my containers that give me
the most satisfaction (when successful)! So this blog is a reboot of past blogs
with updated links & up to date tips. So this is a much longer blog but want to
cover most of the bases. Happy planting!
To begin your beautiful adventure into successful container gardening,
choosing the right size container (with drainage holes!) is extremely
important. Pick a large enough container for the sun exposure you receive. A
very large container in full sun will dry out less quickly than a smaller size.
If you are committed to a container garden, then you must be committed to
watering every (or almost every) day. The more you allow your containers to
completely dry out, the less successful you will be. Potting mixes are abundant
at garden centers now. I choose types with fertilizer & also continue to
feed throughout the summer. For my very sunny locations I use the 'blue' bag
moisture control mixes. There are many organic choices too. There are no wrong
choices here. Just make sure it reads container mix and not bedding mix; the
bags tend to look alike.
Containers of the large size have three
basic components: the thriller, filler & spiller. The thriller is your
centerpiece plant. The filler plants are your lower growers that surround the
thriller. The spiller plants will spill & drape over the sides of your
container giving a soft look. So think of these elements when choosing your
plants. Your thriller can also be a garden ornament that is taller like a small
triangular trellis. Most of all have fun & use your imagination! In the
following list I will put an F (filler), T (thriller) or S (spiller) after each
variety
To help
save you money & add to your success here are some of my own plant buying
experiences:
~
For sun & part sun the plants that are traditional but DO NOT do well in
containers generally are: ageratum, dahlia, geranium, marigolds, gerbera daisy,
snapdragon (hates container heat), osteopermum (only blooms in cool temps),
verbena, rosebud impatiens.
~ Here are some excellent sun/part sun
choices: Angelonia T, begonia ‘dragon wing’ variety T&F (available in pink
& red, green leaf; one plant grows so large it’s all you need), Big leaf
begonias F are new to the scene & have larger leaves & flowers; these
are my recent favorite for shade or sun & the do well planted in the ground
as well. Euphorbia ‘diamond frost’ F, calibrachoa S, canna T, mandevilla F
& S, papyrus T, new guinea impatiens T & F (requires LOTS of water),
Marguerite daisy T & F, heliotrope F, salvia F, coleus F, bacopa S, zinnia
T & F (pinch these for perfection!). New compact petunia varieties F like
Cha-Ching Cherry & petunia wave S varieties are wonderful too. Also, tree
standards like lantana F & S, hibiscus T, citrus T oleander T &
magnolia T are lovely. One plant in an appropriate sized pot makes a statement.
~
For shade remember to NOT USE the regular bedding impatiens. The downy mildew
fungus is not going anywhere & can be costly. Instead try torenia F & S,
coleus F, dragon wing begonias T & F (personal favorite), wax begonias F,
fuschia S & new guinea impatiens T & F. Perennials like hosta F,
dicentra F, lamium S & ivy S are wonderful too.
So as we are joyfully putting are lovely
garden planters together for spring, and shortly for summer, we need to
remember the ‘art of watering’ them. When we water for the first time, we need
to water thoroughly to remove any air
pockets that may be left. Subsequent watering will depend on need this time of
year. When it begins to get hot, we need to water every day & sometimes
twice. If your planters are left to completely dry out over & over again,
the water will begin to do a ‘run-off’. It will appear to soak in but what
often happens is the hard shell that has formed forces the water to the sides,
down the sides of the container & out the drainage holes. A tell-tale sign
of this is immediate water drainage, where you might say I guess it doesn’t
need any water. (I find this happens more towards August when it gets hotter
& I get a tiny bit lazier). To help your smaller planters, you can submerge
them completely in water until the soil completely soaks through. Your larger
containers will need some work around the plant bases to loosen as much as you
can of the older soil (good time to add some slow release fertilizer) & remember
just adding additional soil still masks the hard shell underneath.
Now for the ever important lesson on dechlorination. My tap water contains levels of
chlorine for healthy drinking purposes. (If you have well water no need to
dechlorinate.) That same chlorine can damage your plants & kill the healthy
organisms in your soil. When talking about containers, we are dealing with a
finite amount of soil that needs to stay healthy so your plants thrive. (Your
garden beds can heal themselves, but it’s always a good idea to water the soil,
not the leaves with your hose water. A good reason to have soaker hoses that
lay close to the soil.)
I dechlorinate in three inexpensive ways.
The first is to fill your watering cans so they sit for at least 24 hours
before you water your containers. This will allow the chlorine to evaporate.
The larger the mouth of the can, the quicker the evaporation. The added benefit
to this is it will also get the water to air temperature which is best for your
planters. So the routine being, water then fill before you go in for the
day/night, they will be ready to go the next day. Having many watering cans is
helpful (many can be found at garage sales – cheap!) My second tip is to use
crystals that are used for fish tank water to dechlorinate immediately. These
can be found in any pet store. My $10.00 jar treats 25,000 gallons! (I use PURA
Chlorlock, very simple & effective). What you do is mix a little
concentrated mixture according to directions. I keep in a small container &
add two dropperfuls to each watering can. Having this option is beneficial when
you have a plethora of planters as I do! The third option is to have rain
barrel installed. This implies you have a home & that we don't have any
kind of drought this summer! I have recently purchased 2 barrels to alleviate
run-off & I will report back on this soon. I am very excited about this.
All this may seem like added work, but it
really is easy & the investment in your plants is nurtured in a big way!
You will notice a difference, but remember to keep feeding your containers all
summer & fall with a slow release fertilizer. The constant watering does
wash away some nutrients. Enjoy the link below that explains it all! Good luck!
http://www.gardenguides.com/80170-dechlorinate-water-garden-plants.html
