Category — Container garden design

Theme Container Gardens for the Deck and Patio

Creating your own container garden can be so much fun, especially if you think of using themes.  Consider showing off your style with a small kitchen garden, or create an outdoor pot designed to attract hummingbirds or to welcome butterflies.  Our beings are drawn to beautiful scents, what about a container giving off wonderful fragrances.

Culinary containers or kitchen gardens are especially handy as a source of herbs, leafy lettuce or parsley, or even edible flowers.  You may wish to combine many edibles to create your own miniature garden at the door.  Combining edibles with your flowering or ornamental plants can be so attractive – imagine Beefsteak Tomatoes surrounded by basil or oregano.  For foliage color, use green and purple leaved basils, leaf lettuce and Swiss chard.  Parsley is especially great, goes anywhere, and adds attractive texture and rich green color to any container combination. Nasturtiums are grown for their showy, spurred flowers and trailing ones are sensational in your planters – they are edible and give a finished look to the container.

Herbs that work wonderfully well in culinary containers are chives, lemon balm, rosemary, different sages and oregano.  Lemongrass is wonderful in soups and adds a nice vertical accent to any planter or outdoor pot.

And then of course there are those peppers, both colorful and hot.  Cherry tomatoes should not be forgotten, they look pretty in your arrangements and the spectacular patio tomatoes are there for the picking.  Don’t forget arugula and of course golden thyme for another theme.

The best place to use your fragrant plants is in garden pots on your deck or patio.  This is where we can enjoy their lovely scents when relaxing in the evening.  Mix scented plants with foliage or flowers and see what you can come up with.  Some plants, such as heliotrope, can be enjoyed once they begin to bloom and for the rest of the summer.  Lilies that have been forced in your pots can be moved to the garden after they bloom.  Others such as tuberoses may have to be moved indoors before frost and then brought out again next year.  Dahlias and of course geraniums make a great show and a delightful addition to your container gardens.

Hummingbirds will arrive right on your deck or patio if you give them the proper encouragement.  Along with your hummingbird feeder, some of the best container plants to attract them are annual sages.  They come in so many colors from bright red to shades of mauve and purpose to creamy white and pink.  Try out one or more of them in your garden pots. You may also use Nicotiana plant, petunias and dwarf dahlias too.

To keep all of our container plants going all summer, deadhead regularly and of course water and feed on a timely basis.  When plants become scrawny or leggy, just cut them back hard in mid-summer and then they will produce more new flowers and foliage within a few weeks.  Your containers will be beautiful right into the cool Fall weather.

In summary, create theme container combinations.  They can be ones either for the kitchen, to give off wonderful fragrances and of course to attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Need a Fresh Container Gardening Idea? Create a Container Garden With the Entire Family

If you are looking for a fun family weekend project, I would suggest trying container gardening.  This is something the entire family will enjoy doing together because it appeals to all ages.  It’s an easy, fun and inexpensive way for the family to spend some quality time together. And you will continue to enjoy watching your garden grow and flourish, knowing that you each took part in developing your family garden.

To get started, make a list of the things you will need to start your container garden. They should include: containers, plants, dirt and some small gardening tools.  Now you need to choose the area were you will put your garden. This is one of the great things about this alternative way to garden; you can have a very small area and still grow whatever you like. A small balcony, a window box or a front porch can all be transformed into a beautiful and useful area. You may want to grow flowers, vegetables, herbs or a mix of all. If you are including children, you may want to look up some plants or take them to the garden center and let them choose their very own plants. Children will enjoy being included in the entire process, including the care of the garden once it is in place.

So with your list and some ideas in place, it’s time to load up the family and head to a home and garden center.  You can start with seeds or small plants. There should be instructions on each that will tell you how large the plants will get and the ideal conditions they will grow in. You may want to find an experienced worker and explain to them that you are starting a container garden; they can be a font of information. They can also help you with decisions such as types of soil and fertilizers and information about the plants you choose.

Once you have all of the materials needed for your container garden, the real fun begins. Even big kids like to play in the dirt!  You should place the containers in the areas you think you would like them. Then just plant the seeds or the plants and enjoy watching your garden grow.  Soon you will have grown beautiful plants. You can now make fresh salads or a bright floral bouquet to add nature and beauty anywhere.

Most people who try container gardening get hooked right away. Once you see how easy the whole process is and how the whole family enjoys it, you will probably be expanding your garden every year. You really don’t need acres of land and farm equipment to enjoy gardening.  Just a little time and imagination and you can grow your ideas anywhere.

I hopefully have inspired you to try container gardening as a family project. In this day and age when family time is so rare and budgets are low, we all need ideas that will keep our families close and connected.  So enjoy!

Find More Container Gardening Ideas Articles

Need a Fresh Container Gardening Idea? Create a Container Garden With the Entire Family

If you are looking for a fun family weekend project, I would suggest trying container gardening.  This is something the entire family will enjoy doing together because it appeals to all ages.  It’s an easy, fun and inexpensive way for the family to spend some quality time together. And you will continue to enjoy watching your garden grow and flourish, knowing that you each took part in developing your family garden.

To get started, make a list of the things you will need to start your container garden. They should include: containers, plants, dirt and some small gardening tools.  Now you need to choose the area were you will put your garden. This is one of the great things about this alternative way to garden; you can have a very small area and still grow whatever you like. A small balcony, a window box or a front porch can all be transformed into a beautiful and useful area. You may want to grow flowers, vegetables, herbs or a mix of all. If you are including children, you may want to look up some plants or take them to the garden center and let them choose their very own plants. Children will enjoy being included in the entire process, including the care of the garden once it is in place.

So with your list and some ideas in place, it’s time to load up the family and head to a home and garden center.  You can start with seeds or small plants. There should be instructions on each that will tell you how large the plants will get and the ideal conditions they will grow in. You may want to find an experienced worker and explain to them that you are starting a container garden; they can be a font of information. They can also help you with decisions such as types of soil and fertilizers and information about the plants you choose.

Once you have all of the materials needed for your container garden, the real fun begins. Even big kids like to play in the dirt!  You should place the containers in the areas you think you would like them. Then just plant the seeds or the plants and enjoy watching your garden grow.  Soon you will have grown beautiful plants. You can now make fresh salads or a bright floral bouquet to add nature and beauty anywhere.

Most people who try container gardening get hooked right away. Once you see how easy the whole process is and how the whole family enjoys it, you will probably be expanding your garden every year. You really don’t need acres of land and farm equipment to enjoy gardening.  Just a little time and imagination and you can grow your ideas anywhere.

I hopefully have inspired you to try container gardening as a family project. In this day and age when family time is so rare and budgets are low, we all need ideas that will keep our families close and connected.  So enjoy!

Related Container Gardening Ideas Articles

Creating A Container Garden At Home

When you are ready to mix ingredients for your container garden, be sure the soil is damp and workable. To determine this, take a handful, squeeze it and allow it to drop. If water comes out, it is too wet; if it breaks apart, it is too dry. But if the lump of soil retains its shape or cracks just a little when it is dropped, it is in good condition to work into your gardening pots.

Be certain your garden containers are clean when you start. Soak used or new clay gardening pots overnight so they will not draw moisture from the soil after planting. This is a very important step when you are beginning your plants life. If the pot draws off the moisture the new plant will be deprived. Clean dirty clay pots with a stiff brush and hot, soapy water.  Clean gardening pots will be much more attractive in your container garden.

Though redwood, cedar, and cypress gardening pots may be left natural, they may also be stained or painted. First clean the surfaces then apply one or two coats of stain or paint. Let dry completely before planting. Concrete, metal, plastic, fiberglass, and similar materials all need cleaning before planting your container garden.

Suiting plants to garden pots is very important in container garden design. Consider the shape of each container, its color, and texture in relation to the color of flowers and foliage, as well as the ultimate size of each plant in your container garden. Don’t choose material that is too small, and if you want a group of plants for a large container, select one tall specimen for the center to give height and scale.  Don’t forget that you can plant vegetables in container gardens; try to incorporate them into your container garden design.  And, for a tasty addition to your container garden plant herbs in garden containers or even hanging baskets, your recipes will become marvelous.

In low pots or bulb pans and in tubs, use low-growing plants like fancy-leaved caladiums, petunias, verbenas, Iantanas, ageratum and wax begonias. Hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils are also appropriate. In tall containers, plant specimens of geraniums, heliotropes, coleus, balsam, dwarf dahlias, fuchsias, and marguerites. Reserve the larger container pots and boxes for trees and shrubs or roses.

As a gardener, keep in mind the form of plants, particularly the evergreens which stand out boldly in winter. Rounded types, as clipped yews or globe arborvitae, look well in angular containers. Hollies or yews, sheared into squares or pyramids, look better in circular tubs. This contrast of the curving with the straight always gives interest to the garden and those guests that visit your container garden.

The first step in potting for a gardener is to place sufficient drainage material in the bottom of each garden container, allowing the water to pass through freely, but not so much as to interfere with the roots. An inch or two of flower pot pieces (rounded sides up), or chips of brick or flagstone, pebbles, gravel, small stones, or cinders can be used. The larger the container, the larger the pieces should be. Some gardeners spread a piece of coarse burlap and a layer of sand over large drainage pieces. A layer of Vermiculite or sphagnum moss over the drainage material is also fine to keep soil from clogging holes. If the holes clog the roots will drown in their gardening pot.

Above the drainage, spread a layer of soil, the amount depending on the size of the container and the root ball of the plant. Place the plant in position so that the surface of the soil will be an inch (more for big plants) below the rim of the container. This space is needed to hold water.

Fill soil in around the roots, firming gently with your fingers or a piece of wood so as to eliminate air pockets. Add more soil and firm, but do not make the soil too tight for fine feeding roots must be able to penetrate it with ease.

Finally, water your garden container plants well, let them drain. If water passes through the gardening pot very rapidly, press soil again to firm it; that means there are air pockets. If the soil holds water too long, loosen it a little.

Place the container garden in a sheltered spot out of sun and wind for the first week while they make new root growth and adjust to new conditions. This also helps to avoid shock.  Once your plants have settled in, you ready to arrange your container garden according to your original container gardening design.

Happy Container Gardening!

Find More Container Garden Designs Articles

Creating A Container Garden At Home

When you are ready to mix ingredients for your container garden, be sure the soil is damp and workable. To determine this, take a handful, squeeze it and allow it to drop. If water comes out, it is too wet; if it breaks apart, it is too dry. But if the lump of soil retains its shape or cracks just a little when it is dropped, it is in good condition to work into your gardening pots.

Be certain your garden containers are clean when you start. Soak used or new clay gardening pots overnight so they will not draw moisture from the soil after planting. This is a very important step when you are beginning your plants life. If the pot draws off the moisture the new plant will be deprived. Clean dirty clay pots with a stiff brush and hot, soapy water.  Clean gardening pots will be much more attractive in your container garden.

Though redwood, cedar, and cypress gardening pots may be left natural, they may also be stained or painted. First clean the surfaces then apply one or two coats of stain or paint. Let dry completely before planting. Concrete, metal, plastic, fiberglass, and similar materials all need cleaning before planting your container garden.

Suiting plants to garden pots is very important in container garden design. Consider the shape of each container, its color, and texture in relation to the color of flowers and foliage, as well as the ultimate size of each plant in your container garden. Don’t choose material that is too small, and if you want a group of plants for a large container, select one tall specimen for the center to give height and scale.  Don’t forget that you can plant vegetables in container gardens; try to incorporate them into your container garden design.  And, for a tasty addition to your container garden plant herbs in garden containers or even hanging baskets, your recipes will become marvelous.

In low pots or bulb pans and in tubs, use low-growing plants like fancy-leaved caladiums, petunias, verbenas, Iantanas, ageratum and wax begonias. Hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils are also appropriate. In tall containers, plant specimens of geraniums, heliotropes, coleus, balsam, dwarf dahlias, fuchsias, and marguerites. Reserve the larger container pots and boxes for trees and shrubs or roses.

As a gardener, keep in mind the form of plants, particularly the evergreens which stand out boldly in winter. Rounded types, as clipped yews or globe arborvitae, look well in angular containers. Hollies or yews, sheared into squares or pyramids, look better in circular tubs. This contrast of the curving with the straight always gives interest to the garden and those guests that visit your container garden.

The first step in potting for a gardener is to place sufficient drainage material in the bottom of each garden container, allowing the water to pass through freely, but not so much as to interfere with the roots. An inch or two of flower pot pieces (rounded sides up), or chips of brick or flagstone, pebbles, gravel, small stones, or cinders can be used. The larger the container, the larger the pieces should be. Some gardeners spread a piece of coarse burlap and a layer of sand over large drainage pieces. A layer of Vermiculite or sphagnum moss over the drainage material is also fine to keep soil from clogging holes. If the holes clog the roots will drown in their gardening pot.

Above the drainage, spread a layer of soil, the amount depending on the size of the container and the root ball of the plant. Place the plant in position so that the surface of the soil will be an inch (more for big plants) below the rim of the container. This space is needed to hold water.

Fill soil in around the roots, firming gently with your fingers or a piece of wood so as to eliminate air pockets. Add more soil and firm, but do not make the soil too tight for fine feeding roots must be able to penetrate it with ease.

Finally, water your garden container plants well, let them drain. If water passes through the gardening pot very rapidly, press soil again to firm it; that means there are air pockets. If the soil holds water too long, loosen it a little.

Place the container garden in a sheltered spot out of sun and wind for the first week while they make new root growth and adjust to new conditions. This also helps to avoid shock.  Once your plants have settled in, you ready to arrange your container garden according to your original container gardening design.

Happy Container Gardening!

More Container Garden Designs Articles

Need a Fresh Container Gardening Idea? Create a Container Garden With the Entire Family

If you are looking for a fun family weekend project, I would suggest trying container gardening.  This is something the entire family will enjoy doing together because it appeals to all ages.  It’s an easy, fun and inexpensive way for the family to spend some quality time together. And you will continue to enjoy watching your garden grow and flourish, knowing that you each took part in developing your family garden.

To get started, make a list of the things you will need to start your container garden. They should include: containers, plants, dirt and some small gardening tools.  Now you need to choose the area were you will put your garden. This is one of the great things about this alternative way to garden; you can have a very small area and still grow whatever you like. A small balcony, a window box or a front porch can all be transformed into a beautiful and useful area. You may want to grow flowers, vegetables, herbs or a mix of all. If you are including children, you may want to look up some plants or take them to the garden center and let them choose their very own plants. Children will enjoy being included in the entire process, including the care of the garden once it is in place.

So with your list and some ideas in place, it’s time to load up the family and head to a home and garden center.  You can start with seeds or small plants. There should be instructions on each that will tell you how large the plants will get and the ideal conditions they will grow in. You may want to find an experienced worker and explain to them that you are starting a container garden; they can be a font of information. They can also help you with decisions such as types of soil and fertilizers and information about the plants you choose.

Once you have all of the materials needed for your container garden, the real fun begins. Even big kids like to play in the dirt!  You should place the containers in the areas you think you would like them. Then just plant the seeds or the plants and enjoy watching your garden grow.  Soon you will have grown beautiful plants. You can now make fresh salads or a bright floral bouquet to add nature and beauty anywhere.

Most people who try container gardening get hooked right away. Once you see how easy the whole process is and how the whole family enjoys it, you will probably be expanding your garden every year. You really don’t need acres of land and farm equipment to enjoy gardening.  Just a little time and imagination and you can grow your ideas anywhere.

I hopefully have inspired you to try container gardening as a family project. In this day and age when family time is so rare and budgets are low, we all need ideas that will keep our families close and connected.  So enjoy!

Container Gardening Tips For Amazing Plants, Flowers, & Edibles The 7 Step Process (For Great Results)

It’s often looked out on that Container Gardening can be a life abundant passion, a constructive and artist hobby, and an uncomplicated and efficacious way to create an a la mode, fresh and asking for home, an enthusiastic way to eat able-bodied healthful foods, and an impressive way to tie with nature

So if you’ve got itchy green fingers, and want an amazing collection of plants and flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs just simply follow these key Container Gardening Tips!

The 7 Steps Process to Great Container Gardening

1. Get Your Lighting Right

2. Choose Your Soil

3. Monitor humidity levels

4. Water as necessitated

5. Check temperature

6. How to Choose the proper container

7. Food & Nutrients

Lighting

Via photosynthesis, plants absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide to create food. As such light is a very important factor. Try and keep your container plants and flowers near a biological source of light during the day. If you have a gloomy corner at home or your home does not have much natural light, use a 150 watt light bulb about 4 5 feet away during the day. An even easier way to get some light is to purchase a plant stand up fitted out with a constructed in lighting system. This is an enthusiastic way to keep container gardens anywhere around the home. And retrieve light is only crucial during the day!

Humidity

The humidity required depends on the nature of the plant. Jungle plants need about 90% humidity, sub-tropical about 50%, temperate zone plants (such as North America and Europe) require 30 40% and desert / cacti about 5 %

Cheap humidity indicators are great at monitoring moisture in the air, however obvious signs of low humidity levels are dry topsoil and wilting leaves. Excess humidity is not often a problem except for desert plants such as cacti. Low humidity levels can be quickly rectified by a spray on the leaves once or twice a day, and by placing a pot on an ankle-deep seek of water and little pebbles

Temperature

Jungle plants thrive at higher temperatures, temperate zone plants thrive at between 90 100 F. Container plants, fhumbleers and edibles are competent to manage proportionate humbleer temperatures at night, as abundant as they are not too humble i.e. near stopping dead. Tropical plants can handle a borderline of 65 F at night, sub-tropical plants about 55-60 F and temperate zone plants about 45 F.The exception to this are the desert plants much as cacti, which have conformed to the immersing evening temperatures of the desert

Soil

The vibrant organic environment of jungle plants makes them more conducive to leaf mold and moss, and therefore a more acidic environment. A ph of 5.5 is abstract. A acceptable implanting ratio for jungle plants is :

25% organically enriched garden loam
50% leaf mold
25% coarse sand or compost

Temperate zone plants have less organic material to cope with, and a therefore more comfortable with a ph of near neutral i.e. 7.0

Desert plants prefer a slightly more alkaline soil

Containers

The material from which the container is made will affect the rate at which water is sucked out of the soil. Some container gardening enthusiasts can’t discontinue raving about clay pots, as they take away water at a generally faster rate, forestalling water choking off of the roots, and keeping the pot air-conditioned. What ever the material , just make bound that their are water holes at the bottom, or material at the base which raises the pot and allows excess water to drain

Get creative and indulge those container gardening ideas. Choose a variety of container colours, materials and styles to append a bit of sophistication and pizazz to your home

Water

The amount of water required by a container plant, flower or edible will depend on it’s make up and size, and environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and type of soil, as well as the nature of the container it’s self

Always check the surface of the soil, and about 1 2 inches deep to determine moisture levels and top up as required. Too much water will submerge your roots, and too little will dehydrate your plant

To prevent excess moisture loss, keep a layer of rich top soil or moss on the surface of the soil

A useful container gardening tip is to never use cold water! This may be too much of a shock to a delicate system. Go with room temperature or slightly above

Food & Nutrients

Slow release plant-food granules can be added to the compost or potting mix in the recommended quantity before filling the container, or at the sprinkled on the surface of the soil. Pelleted granules can be appended about 1 -2 inches under the soil surface. If the soil is wholesome productive, additive food may not be necessitated, however a little additive will go an abundant way!

Now that you have the 7 key tips to great Container Gardening you are on your way to growing great plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables

More Design Container Gardening Articles

Create Stunning Container Garden Designs

You certainly have a feeling of great abundance with you see plant-packed containers on your deck, patio or in your garden. There is nothing like container gardens to link the indoors and outdoors between home and garden. Today, we all desire to see out alfresco space turned into an extraordinary fresh addition to our homes

After choosing the right planters, pots and containers from a wide range of materials, styles, colors and sizes, the time is right to think about what you are going to put in the planters and where to place them

You can use your planters, urns and pots in many areas. Think about where they would be best – to set off your doorway or deck entrance, to conceal ugly utility areas or storage spaces, or to show off the best views on your deck, garden or patio. You can travel your containers around to enamour the afternoon shade, render protection from wind and to debar those distant blistering spots in summer heat. Do plan to bask those musky plants and always have them close to your realigning areas, or to brush against next to walkways. A rule of thumb, purchase larger planters than you think you may necessitate, little little pots will get misplaced in the space and never accomplish that WOW appear in the area

We know that we need to plant containers properly and of course to water when needed. Now to get got down! Pick containers that will manage the size of the plants you are considering. You can contrast ample and little containers together for a disorienting effect. Annuals and bulbs are very democratic choices for pots and planters

When you are ready to plant, fill the containers to within about three inches from the top and gently firm down the soil. Set the plants you have selected and place on top of the soil and then step back and visualise how they will appear when they fill up out and create a gross view. Containers that will sit down next to a wall or fence posit downion the tallest plants at the back of the planter and environ with other plants. When you have ample containers or when they will be seen from all sides, set the tallest plants in the central and surround with the other plants.

Once you are pleased with the temporary arrangement, dig out holes with your trowel or your hands and set the plants in place. Gently firm the soil around each plant. Be bound to go forth three inches from the top of the pot to let for appropriate irrigating. When implanting, an acceptable tip is to make sure that the roots of the plants are very wet or soaked before implanting. Then water your container thoroughly when you have finished your arrangement

Now is the time to move your garden planters and containers to create the overall look that you would like to achieve in the chosen space. It is always an acceptable idea to keep the sun loving plants together and abstracted from the shading loving ones. Don’t make any combination too upright or too sprawly, have a good blend of both – one will heighten the appear of the other.

Mix large containers with the small ones, arrange in groupings. Place one or two on plant stands to create a central point in your arrangement. You may care to cruise around your neighborhood, go to garden centers or even view the latest magazines to do some constructive slipping for more design ideas

Container Gardening Ideas For The Many Different Garden Pots

For container gardening ideas, search the internet, the library or a bookstore. The challenge is to come up with a pleasing container garden design. There are an unlimited variety of containers available for your container garden. These range in size from small house-plant pots to large boxes and planters. Equally variable are the materials from which they are made. These include wood, glass, clay, aluminum, bamboo, straw, plastic, fiberglass, terra cotta, tin, cast iron, zinc, copper, and brass, each with certain advantages and disadvantages. What you select will depend on availability, cost, background, and appeal not to mention the characteristics of the gardening pots.

Here are some container gardening ideas. In addition to traditional circular pots and tubs, there are modern and ultra-modern forms—square, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, and octagonal. Also eligible are old iron kitchen pots, kettles, pails, jugs, casks, vases, crocks, jelly tubs, barrels and nail kegs, Japanese fish tubs, old sinks, bathtubs, bamboo soy tubs. There are novelty containers such as driftwood, wheelbarrows, donkey carts, spinning wheels and boxes attached to roadside mail receptacle. There are also bird cages, decorative well heads, animal figures, and Strawberry jars. Woven baskets may be used to conceal unattractive containers. Even tar paper pots, handled by garden centers and florists, are worthwhile if painted or covered to improve their appearance. Any of these can be used in your container gardening ideas.

Where to find your container supplies? Start with what you have. If you scout cellars or basements, attics, garages, and sheds, you will doubtless encounter something interesting. Old-fashioned pots and kettles, often sold in antique shops at country auctions or seen at old New England inns, have much appeal.

Other container garden ideas are to consider old cookie and bean jars, pickle and other types of crocks, wash tubs, coal pails, jardinières, and ceramic bowls. For drainage, spread a thick layer of large pebbles or broken pieces of pots or bricks at the bottom and then water plants with care. In large containers of this kind, drainage material should be several inches thick. Where rainfall is heavy, be sure to keep garden containers without drainage outlets on porches, under awnings or the broad eaves of houses. With pails and old galvanized wash tubs, holes can be easily punctured at the bottom.

Plants in containers without drainage openings remain moist longer. Some of these—crocks, jardinières and cookie jars—are heavy enough to be secure against wind in outside container gardening.

What constitutes the ideal container for your container garden ideas? A container must be attractive, even if it is not an object of art. It should be strong and durable and able to resist all kinds of weather. This is especially true of the large sizes, which usually remain outdoors all year around. In the North, alternate freezing and thawing is a problem in winter (and could cause cracking); in tropical climates, excessive heat, humidity, and moisture are to be considered (and could cause fading). And in semiarid areas, there is the effect of scorching sun to keep in mind, another cause of fading. All these things must be kept in mind when coming up with your container gardening design.

The ideal container must be large enough to hold a substantial amount of soil. It should have good drainage facilities through holes or other openings at the bottom or sides, though this is not absolutely necessary. It must not rust, at least in a single season, and it should have a wide enough base to rest firmly wherever placed. Besides, it ought to be heavy enough to withstand average winds. In severe storms, like hurricanes and tornadoes, movable containers can be shifted to temporary safety. All of these things should be factored in when you are coming up with your container gardening ideas.

Resistance to rot is another requirement. Wooden containers—except those made of rot-resistant redwood, Western cedar, and Southern red cypress—will need to be treated with a wood preservative. Except for permanent containers, the ability to move your container garden is another feature, and sometimes a safety precaution, of portable container gardening. Large boxes and planters can be fitted with wheels, and garden centers have redwood tubs that rest on platforms with wheels. A hole in the platform corresponds to the hole in the tub. Large containers without wheels can be pushed on iron or wooden rollers by two or more persons; however, if you live in an area prone to disastrous storms it is best to keep your containers small.

Smaller containers are ideal for growing herb container gardens. If you plan to plant an herb container garden be imaginative Here are some container garden ideas for herbs that go well together.

For an Italian selection try Sweet basil, Italian parsley, Oregano, Marjoram and Thyme.

For a lovely scented container use Lavender, Rose scented geranium, Lemon balm, Lemon thyme, and Pineapple sage.

For really great salads try Garlic chives, Rocket, Salad burnet, Parsley, Celery.

And to say “We love French Cooking!” use Tarragon, Chervil, Parsley, Chives and Sage.

Any of these will liven up your cooking and please your family.

So these are just a few container gardening ideas. Get out a pad of paper and make up a container garden design that will please the eye and maybe even the palate

Happy Container Gardening!

Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.