Horti-Culture ~ Container Gardens

Anarchist containers still obey mother nature. The word "Purge" and elevation off the sidewalk provide drainage, the containers are large and the plants must be extremely drought tolerant since their only irrigation is rain. Location: Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA

Successful Container Gardening, Successful Living

A beautiful container near the door or on your patio is a great idea, but too often it becomes a showcase of suffering. A few simple steps are essential for making sure that your pot doesn't advertise your tendency to neglect the things you love. Drainage, food, water and light are what your plants need. With a container garden, those plants depend on you to provide them all.

Make sure to select a container that is frost proof and contains at least one drainage hole. Periodically check to see that drainage hole does not become blocked by inserting something (your choice) into the hole to make sure it's clear. Purchasing feet for the pot or using anything to keep your pot off the ground will also help drainage.

Don't feed your plants junk food. Make sure that your fertilizer is organic or close to organic. Avoid Scotts, Miracle Grow and all of those chemical, artificial fertilizers. They disturb the natural balance of beneficial elements in your potting soil that help build a healthy ecosystem in your container. This makes your plants dependent on their nasty product. Starting with good quality potting soil also helps. Many of the better ones have small amounts of worm casings (fancy word for poop), bat guano (another fancy word for poop) or other natural composted materials. Do not buy potting soil with peat moss in it or Sphagnum peat moss in it lest you be responsible for depleting a nonrenewable and essential part of wetlands that helps purify and store water.*

Water your container deeply about 1-2 times a week if it doesn't rain. The top of the soil should be starting to dry out, but you should hit moist soil as you poke your finger in further. A larger pot needs less frequent watering. If your obsessive compulsion drives you to water daily, then buy a tiny pot.

Knowing yourself is as important as knowing the plants you install. If you're too busy watching cable to be bothered with watering, install plants that can handle severe drought. For sun, use Poppies, Sedum, Agastache, Nasturtiums, Ice Plant, Rosemary, Ceanothus....the list goes on forever. For shade the list is smaller. Use Hellebore, Vinca, Epimedium, Saxifrage, Pachysandra, Carex.

Finally and most important, always place plants in the light they prefer. Period. Read what the tag says, not what you want it to say. Give the plants what they want on this one. They will not negotiate.

Follow these guidelines and you rule out most of the problems that people encounter with containers. Your plants will look great and people will like you because you are such a nurturing person.

Diedre Muns owns and operates a wonderful landscaping business in Seattle. Visit Florabunga and Leap from Yard to Garden!

*Peat Moss Alternatives