Containers can add beauty, color, and interest to your garden, however many gardeners stay away from planting in containers because they have heard stories of failures or they themselves have come away with dead, withered plants. Container planting can be extraordinarily beautiful and is really not difficult if you keep a few basic things in mind. The basics are drainage, planting mix, watering, and plant combinations.
Drainage—trapping water in your pot is a sure way to rot the roots and smother your plants. Be sure that you have adequate drainage in all your pots. I like to put a layer of gravel in the bottom of my pots. It helps drainage, saves on potting soil, and keeps the pot heavier so it won’t blow over in a strong wind.
Plants in containers need potting mix—natural soil does not provide enough drainage or nutrients. Succulents and cacti planted in pots will benefit from fast draining soil. When combining plant types such as succulents and low water leafy perennials, I mix half potting soil with half cactus mix.
Watering—it is essential that your plants are well watered but not left soggy. My preference for the busy homeowner is automatic watering. I like drip or adjustable spray heads right in the pot—so that they can be adjusted as needed. You should adjust your watering cycles based on how much water your plant needs and the temperature. If you like to hand water make sure that you do so on a regular basis and that you hire a plant sitter when you go out of town. Knowing the porosity of your container (terra cotta verses glazed, for example) will help you adjust your watering schedule.
Planting combinations—it is very important to me to have a stunning plant combination, however, it is essential that you match your plants by hydrozone and sun exposure. If you put plants in a container that require different amounts of water, you will have less success or more maintenance. If you combine plants of different sun exposure in one container, you are doomed to failure from the start. One will fry while the other flourishes or a spindly bloomless plant will be combined with a lush one.
If you follow these basic rules, you can add splashes of beauty all around, using containers as focal points, dividing features, centers of color, texture, and fragrance.
Julie Molinare is a Certified Landscape Designer living in the Santa Clarita for over 15 years. Julie taught the Introduction to Landscape Design Class at CSUN Tseng College of Extended Learning and is owner/designer of The Grass Is Always Greener Designs.
For more information, please call 661-917-3521 and visit www.thegrassisalwaysgreener.net—make sure to visit the blog page to sign up for information and garden reminders.