Tips to Create Knock Out Container Gardens

This time of year always has me excited about spending more time outdoors and of course that includes gardening in the yard. Even if you don’t have a space of your own to use for gardening, you can create your own oasis with container gardening. Great for vegetables, fruit and regular plants, container gardening gives you a lot of flexibility for outdoor living.

Here are some easy Tips to Create Knock Out Container Gardens:

Materials:

• Pots or containers for planting
• Newspapers
• Small rocks
• Potting Soil
• Two to three types of plants

How to Put Together Container Plants:

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1. First, select your containers. Get creative with your containers and use something you already have at home. It’s a fun and unique way to get planting.

Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• Planters
• Plastic or metal buckets
• Wash tubs
• Terra cotta pots
• Baskets with liners
• Old furniture
• Wagon
• Plastic storage containers (with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage)
• Dollar store garbage pails
• Wooden wine crates or barrels
• Window boxes
• Tin cans

2. Next, select your plants. First locate the section that has the sun requirements to match your new planter’s location. Then select your plants using this simple rule of three: ‘Thrill, Fill, Spill.”

Select one tall plant that will give the arrangement height, the “thrill.” This will usually be something straight and tall.

Next you’ll pick something that will grow full and fill in the open space in the container, like a ground cover. This is what is called the “fill.”

Then pick something cascading that will generally fall or “spill” out of the container and flow onto the ground.

3. Select a good potting soil (not a topsoil or garden soil.) You want to give your plants the right nutrients, so select carefully.

4. Add drainage to your containers. This can be as easy as crumpled up newspapers or small rocks that will allow the water to drain from the pot.

5. Fill in your planter with soil and the plants. Water thoroughly!

Continue to water newly planted container gardens for the first two weeks until the new roots get established. Soon you’ll have a Knock Out Container Garden.

Here are some more tips that will make container gardening easier for you:

How to Lighten Containers:

Although newer containers are losing weight with new materials. They can get heavy once loaded with plants, soil and water. To lighten up your pots, bunch up newspapers and put them in the bottom of the containers. Not only will this act as drainage for your plants, it will decompose naturally and use less soil. I’ve also heard you can fill the bottom of tall planters with pine bark much, rigid packing styrofoam or plastic bottles.

How to Move Containers:

Use plant stands with wheels to easily move containers. Not only will wheels protect your floors inside, it will also help you arrange the containers without strain.

How to Add Drainage:

If your pot doesn’t have drainage holes, you can add your own. Simply use a drill to drill holes in the bottom of the container.

Make sure to go shopping today and get some plants that grow well in your region. Have fun selecting plants. These easy tips will have your container garden looking like a true knock out in no time and will make those neighbors jealous.

Have fun in the garden and see you at Decor Adventures soon!

~ Read Jessica’s Other Posts ~

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