The Art of Container Gardening

 
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Most of us feel like we are creating something great when we work in the garden. But did you know that gardening is actually considered an art!  It has been practiced by thousands of people from several centuries in the past.

It really is a treat to watch a well-maintained beautiful garden right outside your house.

We have a very limited space to plant things in our yard.  But still more than some apartment dwellers have.  

Thankfully that's where container gardening comes in handy.

Container gardening refers to growing a variety of plants in big containers which can then be placed on a porch or on a window sill. C ontainer gardening also consists of planter boxes, wooden barrels, large flowerpots and hanging baskets.

I know from paying attention to what "appears" in our yard that you are just limited by your imagination in the case of container gardening or any other type of gardening. Let's have a look at some of the things you should consider when buying and planting in containers:

• Avoid containers with narrow openings. Containers with narrow openings will not allow the plants to grow freely and adequate sunlight may not reach the plants.
  
• Do not use cheap plastic pots as they deteriorate in sunlight.  Refrain from buying terracotta pots also as they dry out rapidly. The best choice is glazed ceramic pots, making sure to drill make several drainage holes if there are none in the pot.
  
• Try not to use wooden containers as they rot quickly. However the advantage of wooden containers is that they can be built of any size that you require.
  
• Use pots between 15 to 120 quarts capacity. The smaller pots restrict the growth of plants, especially at the root area. Most of the time, the size and the number of plants to be grown in the container will determine the size of the container.
  
• Make sure that the container has adequate drainage. The holes should be at least ½ inch across to let the water drain easily.
  
• Use light colored or bright colored containers in hot climates so that light can pass through the containers and heat absorption is less.
  If you use hanging baskets, line them with sphagnum moss for water retention, and don't forget to keep baskets away from the afternoon sun.
  
• Clay pots are porous and water is lost easily from the sides of the container. If you are using clay pots, monitor the plants closely to make sure they are not drying out.

If you follow these simple rules, you will have beautiful containers full of plants in no time!