Whether you have limited space or you’re looking to brighten up your steps or patio, containers are a great way to enjoy some of your favorite flowers!
Let’s start with your container…
Terra cotta pots are the most common choice. They’re strong and solid, easy on the budget, and their bright orange color can be a nice contrast to your plants. Painting terra cotta pots can also be a fun art project for the kids! Terra cotta is porous so they lose some moisture to the air on hot days – be sure to check their soil moisture daily in summer.
Many garden centers offer glazed containers. These tend to be a bit pricey but the extra color can really make the pots pop. Make sure that these containers have good-sized holes in the bottom for drainage. The glaze reduces the pot’s porosity so they don’t tend to dry up as quickly as terra cotta pots. Make sure you don’t overwater these containers – don’t water if the soil already feels soggy or water-logged.
Plastic pots are lighter and typically cheaper than clay pots. They also come in fun colors and textures. One downside to being a lighter container is that they are more easily tipped or blown over – sometimes you may need to put a few rocks inside to weigh them down. Like the glazed pots above, plastic doesn’t breath so be careful not to over water.
Plastic pots will also degrade over time in direct sun. You’ll notice the color fading and the material may become brittle and prone to cracking. To reduce this problem, choose a thick plastic and try to reduce its exposure to direct sunlight by placing plants to trail over the edge and cover or shade the sides of the pot.
Don’t be afraid to try something new and let us know how it goes. Until then, happy gardening!
For more information on container gardening be sure to check out some of our other articles:
Container Gardening: Design DOs and DON’Ts
4 Easy Maintenance Tips for a Beautiful Container Garden
Looking for ideas? Check out our Container Garden board on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/petersonlawn/container-gardening/
Want to enjoy some containers but don’t have the time to design your own? Call or email Annika and let her take care of it for you!
Office: 952-252-3301
Email: Annika@PetersonLawn.com
Annika is the horticulturalist at Peterson Lawn Services. Call (952) 929-0422 to schedule a free garden consultation today!
Looking for fun gardening ideas – not sure where to start? Check out our Pinterest page: http://www.pinterest.com/petersonlawn/
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