Container Gardens
Container Gardens
Do you love gardens but dont have the space or maybe the time to create one? Now you can by making one on a small scale called a Container Garden. Container Gardens arent really all that new, its just that the concept has expanded beyond the borders of apartment living and hi-rise residents to suburban living. Now people everywhere are creating container gardens to accent their landscape as well as have a little sliver of the beautiful outdoors just a few feet away. Think of it as a mobile planter even though you may never move it. Creating your own container garden has never been easier with todays plastic, clay, metal and concrete receptacles.
First you need to decide what size container and the type of material you want it to be made from. Make sure the item has a hole or holes in the bottom for adequate drainage when watering. You may want to invest in a matching overflow dish that your container will sit in. This item will hold some of the water runoff allowing the plants to soak up the excess over a period of time. Placement of your container garden will depend upon your own desire, your choice of plants and your available space. If you cannot offer a balance of shade and sun for your container placement, take this into consideration when selecting your plants.
Next, you will need to purchase the substrate ingredients for your container. You will need three different types of substrate: small rocks, sand and soil. The small rocks or pebbles will be your first layer and completely cover the container bottom. Then you will add in the second layer, which is sand, making sure to have a depth of at least one inch (up to 2 inches if your container is deeper). Finally you will begin to add in the top layer or soil. You can choose regular planting soil or the nutrient rich variety if you like. Do not fill the container to the rim as you have plants to add and you want a little ridge to keep the water from flowing out. Once all your plants are placed in the container, then add a little more soil to level the top. Some people will also place small pebbles as their top layer but this is generally for decoration rather than function.
Now it is time to choose your plants and this will depend upon your own preferences and what your ideal container garden should have. You may wish to create a herb garden or flower garden or native plant garden; some people even opt for a mixture of herbs, flowers and native plants in order to create a unique and often spectacular display. As you dig a hole for each plant, be sure and pour water in prior to placing the plant in it. Then, once all the plants are installed, again water the entire container giving the freshly planted vegetation a good long drink.
And voila! You are done creating your container garden and can now enjoy watching your little plant habitat grow and mature. If you notice any wilting or browning, you may need to water a little more often or move your container to a better spot for either more or less sun depending upon what is occurring presently.
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