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GARDENER'S
READING ROOM
The Art of Gardening
Container
Gardening 101
 Gardeners,
regardless of how much space we have, grow plants in pots
for convenience, portability, and audacity, just to see if
something will grow. Necessity is also a factor, and it need
not be a disheartening one. Most plants begin life in small
containers and most are happy to remain in pots.
In
a container garden
things are basically the same as in any other garden, just
on a smaller scale. Water, light, nutrition, soil type, and
drainage must all be considered. How much sun will this pot
get, how much water will you supply, and what do you want
from this garden? Flowers or foliage, edible or ornamental,
striking or subtle, there is no reason you can’t create
it in your container garden.
Choose
a container as large as possible and of good quality. Drainage
is very important. Holes in the bottom of the pot, a layer
of broken bits of terra cotta or rocks at the bottom will
provide drainage. Garden soil has many layers and so will
a thriving container. I like to put a layer of soil mixed
with organic compost in the bottom half of the pot. Top that
off with a high quality potting soil such as Whitney
Farms. You can use small quantities of soil
“poached”
from the ground, but commercial potting soil is designed for
container use and works more effectively.
A
container garden can be very large - think of Versailles
or some English estates!
It can also be very small - a single container beside your
doorway is still a full garden to the plants living in it.
Come
to our free
Container Gardening seminars
on September 11th and September 25th to learn design and planting
techniques. After the seminars, purchase your plants and pots
and we will plant them up for you - for free! See you there.
By Emily Wilkins
Skylights Autumn 2004 Vol. 18, No. 3
Other
articles on the art of gardening
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