Container gardens are ideal for individual who love to garden but simply do not have the space. The great thing about container gardening is that you can plant a wonderful selection of vegetables and flowers, using even very small containers. This type of gardening is perfect for apartment or city dwellers where the only room is a small balcony or patio.
When choosing the containers for your garden, keep in mind that you can use anything, literally! For instance, you can use old ceramic pots, barrels, bathtubs, washtubs, wooden boxes, whiskey barrels, glass jars, and watering cans, anything that will hold a plant. With this type of gardening, there are no limitations. Regardless of the size your space is, you can create a wonderful array of color and fragrance.
The most important thing about container gardening is to choose your containers wisely. Most of all, you need to make sure there is a good drain hole in the bottom. If the container does not have one, you can drill one it. If you have a ceramic or glass pot, take tape and crisscross it on the bottom. Then with a drill bit, drill down into the center of the cross for the hole. Additionally, before you place the soil in, place broken potshards or gravel in the bottom. This helps keep the soil inside the pot, especially when watering.
If you decide to use a wooden container, make sure it is a quality container or it could rot. In addition to this, make sure you do not use wood that has been pretreated with preservatives, which can leak into the soil, causing damage to the plants. If you want to use wood, choose cedar or redwood.
You also want to be creative and have fun choosing your containers. Look around your house or garage, looking for vintage pieces that you could use. You might also visit your local thrift shop to see what kind of fun containers they have on hand. You can use this great opportunity to be whimsical and choose colorful containers that will brighten your garden.
Soil is another important factor when it comes to container gardening. You can use soil that you would take from your regular garden or yard but because you are planting in a confined area or small container, you should choose soil designed specifically for containers. This soil will provide you with a cleaner mix that is disease and weed free. Keep in mind that when you repot the plants, you never want to reuse soil form the containers.