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A Raised Garden Bed Design Will Improve Plant Growth

A Raised Garden Bed Design Will Improve Plant Growth

Using a raised garden bed design is a good way to get a lot more space out of a limited amount of garden space. By raising each plant up instead of out, more crops can grow at the same time. Some plants prefer to grow in the raised garden bed design. Plants like squash and cucumbers grow great in a raised garden bed design.

Strawberries, also, prefer the raised beds. If kept in their own space, they will produce large amounts of vegetables and fruit, keeping the weeds down where the plants are. Because the raised beds allow for each plant, there is little to no space for weeds to take over.

Weeds will however, find the space in any garden and they need to be tended to in the same amount of time spent on the garden itself. If left to grow in between the raised beds, they will soon seed and take over the garden. When they are left to grow, they also become tough and sometimes thorny, making it extra hard to remove them.

The best way to get them out is to pick them when they pass the surface of the soil. This is why a raised garden bed design is so useful. When seeing plants that are small but outside of the raised beds, a person doesn’t have to wait to see if it is a weed or a plant. Pick anything outside of the raised beds. Wait a little longer to pull weeds in the raised beds just to make sure it doesn’t belong there.

Protected Raised Garden Bed Design

If the gardener’s home is in the northern parts of the country, a raised garden bed design can actually insulate root systems during the winter. Some plants will return every year and reproduce more fruit or vegetables. An example of this is strawberries. The raised garden bed design leaves soil to insulate the roots. They will come back year after year as long as the people put down a little mulch at the end of the season. The same holds true for rhubarb plants. Take care of them and the person will be rewarded with a new crop every year.

In closing, a raised garden bed design is an excellent way to keep a garden healthy without using any sprays or pesticides. If someone has never gardened with raised beds, this coming year is a great time to begin. Talk to neighbors who might use this design or go to a nursery where the workers are experienced with this type of garden. They will be happy to help a person plan out the space available. Just make sure that the person has a drawing with the dimensions on it and this year’s garden will be the best one yet.

Ann Marier has written articles on garden issues such as bird problems providing helpful tips and advice. Read her latest articles on garden design offering a new insight and ideas

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Growing a Great Container Garden

Growing a Great Container Garden

Nothing beats fresh vegetables out of your own garden. The taste of a freshly picked tomato is pure heaven and digging your own new, red potatoes is so rewarding. But what do you do if you don’t have a large yard or no yard at all? No problem! You can grow a vegetable garden in a container!

Many people think of container gardening as an easy way to grow beautiful flowers and accent patios and porches with color. But have you ever tried adding a few vegetables in with the flowers? Growing vegetables and herbs in containers is just as easy as growing flowers and you get delicious results! You can mix a cherry tomato plant in with a pot of marigolds and snapdragons. The bright red fruit is a beautiful addition to the colorful blooms. Put a couple of red potato starts in a large planter with a few flowers, the foliage of potato plants is very beautiful and you will also have a few tiny white flowers as well.
H
ow about dedicating a few planters to just produce? Strawberries often produce more fruit when planted in a container because they don’t have much room to spread. Strawberry plants spread by sending out runners that root down and start a new plant. Once the strawberries run out of room to send out shoots, they put all their energy into producing fruit.  How delicious to have fresh strawberries just outside your door!

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning a container garden.  

Properly prepare your pot. Your pot will need good drainage so make sure it has drainage holes drilled in the bottom. If your pot does not have drainage holes, either drill holes or create a drainage area by adding a layer of gravel at the bottom. If you have a very large pot, you can create a drainage area and eliminate the need for large quantities of soil by adding a layer of styrofoam at the bottom.  This will also make the pot easier to move around. Just remember to add enough soil for the plants to have a good root system.

Don’t use garden soil. The soil in your yard is generally too heavy for container use. A container gardening needs light soil that is rich in organic material for proper drainage.  Mix regular potting soil with compost and peat moss to get a healthy soil that is perfect for containers.  It is a good idea to mix in time release fertilizer while you are mixing the soil. Most time release fertilizers last about three months so plan to add more at that time.

When you are transplanting new plants, dig the hole about twice as large as the plants root ball.  Then back fill the hole with some loose soil, this will give the tender roots soft soil to anchor in. Before you place the plant in the hole, massage the roots to break them up slightly. The plant roots have been confined to a small area while they are getting their start, however they need to break free and they need a little help from you to do that.

Give your plants a healthy start by using a root starting fertilizer as you are planting. Mix the liquid fertilizer with water and add it as you plant each new plant to your container.  Root starting fertilizers contain the proper nutrients that help to prevent transplant shock.  

Trim the plant after you plant it. This is a difficult thing for most gardeners to do. After all you just bought a beautiful, full plant at the store! You need to remember that the plant needs to put effort into building a strong root system. This is difficult if the plant is trying to maintain full blooms or large amounts of foliage as well.  A good rule of thumb is to cut off the plant by two thirds. Don’t worry, your plant will grow back fuller and healthier than before.

Combine plants with similar requirements. If a plant requires full sun, don’t pair it up with a plant that does best in partial shade. Careful planning will yield the best results in container gardening.  

Containers are a great way to have fresh produce all summer long. Growing your own fresh produce is rewarding and allows you to provide healthy food for your family. Give container gardening a try, you will love the results!

Piper is a freelance writer who enjoys fitness, good nutrition, and the outdoors. She loves to work in the garden with her small garden tiller. She enjoys nature, reading and fitness. Check out her new website, http://www.smallgardentiller.org to learn all about getting the best small garden tiller so you can have a beautiful garden too!

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Helpful Advice For Looking After Your Plants

Pruning trees correctly beautifies virtually any landscape, while unsuitably doing this can to a great extent ruin and reduce the landscape’s capability. Considering this, it is much better not to prune than to improperly do it. Incorrect pruning strategies weaken and strain healthy plants. Most plants in time get pruned in some means. The leaves will sooner or later fade and die or they may drop off because of high winds or storms.

You can snip trees at whatever time of the year. Henceforth, these times may vary depending on the category of plants or trees you are dealing with. Opposite to what some may imagine, pruning at the wrong time won’t kill the tree or plant; but consistent pruning at the incorrect time will in due course harm and weaken them. normally, the most outstanding time to snip most plants and trees is during late wintertime or early springtime. This is generally when their growth begins. Of course, there will be exceptions and it will totally rely on the kind of plants and trees you are dealing with.

In pruning trees, you should first see it trunk. The tree’s trunk flare should be very seeable at soil level. Also remember that there should be no sprouts or root suckers near the flare. If root suckers are present, excavate its root and cut if off. Furthermore, you must remove any trunk sprouts from the flare and leave the branch collar intact.

Trunks of younger trees sometimes have temporary branches that are placed between the flare and the lowest limb that will endure. These temporary branches render food to assist the trunk to acquire thickness from the flare to the leader. Henceforth, these temporary branches need to be eventually removed from the flare upward once or twice every year. This is since the trunk will flourish and the canopy will develop even more branches as time passes.

You need to also observe the canopy of the tree. The first thing you should reckon when removing the canopy of trees is the five Ds. These five Ds are the: Dead, Dying, Damaged, Diseased and Deformed. When one or more these are present, these branches must be removed at transplanting or at any time when the tree is maturing.

The need for pruning trees or plants can be lessend or extinguished by choosing the fitting plant for the location you have. In a landscape plan, plants that possibly could grow too enormous for its site, are not absolutely handy or become unsightly with age have to be applied wisely and kept to a minimal. Advances in breeding and selecting plants in the nursery industry give an extensive category of plants needing little to no pruning at all. But keep in mind that even the most suited landscape plants still demand some pruning.

If you need tree work carried out in New Jersey then take a look at Trenton Tree Removal.

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New Gardeners Guide to Planting a Container Garden

New Gardeners Guide to Planting a Container Garden

Container gardens give those people who don’t have yards or room for a “regular” garden a way to grow the gardens they crave. Now, they can have a garden on a deck, patio or in a window box or even inside their houses. All types of plants can be grown: vegetables, shrubs, roses, annuals, perennials. The list is endless.


Containers filled with colorful foliage and flowers can really brighten the home, indoors and out. You can have any color scheme that you wish, with colors that harmonize or contrast with your existing home colors. Even just having plant foliage without flowers can liven up a drab house.


When you are choosing plants for your container garden, think about the height of your plants in relation to where you plan to put them. Planting a tall plant or shrub in a window box could block the view from inside a window. Flowering plants should have a long blooming season so that you don’t have to change them out too frequently.


The containers that you choose also make a difference in the feel of the finished garden. You can be creative and use everything from terracotta pots to large dishes to old oaken buckets. You are only limited by your imagination. Pay attention to the material that the pot is made of. Some materials (such as terracotta) may need to be sealed or painted so that they don’t leach all of the water away from the plants.


If purchasing pots for indoors or deck and patio use, you will need to have saucers or plates for them to set on. Otherwise, you will have water and dirt stains on your floors. I have even seen some decks that have rotting wood because of water damage from potted plants.


Never, ever use garden dirt in your plantings. It is essential that you use a high quality potting mix. This will guard against the pests and diseases that you would get from garden soil and will ensure the best possible performance from your plants.


Do you know where you will be locating your plants? Make a plan about where your container garden will be, and then purchase the plants and containers to fit into that area. You also need to determine whether the area is shady or sunny before you purchase your plants. Shade-loving plants will not do well in direct sunlight and vice-versa.


You should also pay attention to the root size of your plants. Those that have a large root system will not be suitable for growing in pots — even if they are large pots.


You may not have much room for plants in the front of your home. However, you can still place a couple of medium-sized flower pots on both sides of the door or front steps. The flowering plants will make a beautiful statement about your home. The plants and flowers don’t need to match exactly. In fact, it’s better if they are of differently varieties. This will give the front of your home more character.


If you are grouping plants in an area, it’s best to group them in odd numbers. You should also vary the height and type of plants. You can unite the dissimilar plants by placing them in similar pots and by adding stones or rocks that are alike in type and color.


By using creativity and common sense you can grow a beautiful garden even if you don’t have the normal outdoor space that a normal outdoor garden requires.

For more information on Container Gardening visit GuideForGardeners.com, a website that provides tips and information on all types of gardening.

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Making A Sustainable Garden Plan With Effective Vegetable Gardening Guide

Making A Sustainable Garden Plan With Effective Vegetable Gardening Guide

To achieve success in the gardening interest, it is important to create a sustainable plan dealing with every stage of the process particularly in the initial stage of the project. Having a gardening plan outlook is important as it prompts the involved person to know the important aspects involved in gardening enabling him or her to effectively deal with the issues and events that are related to gardening and other concerns that can arise in the process.

For this interest, it is necessary especially for beginners and novice gardeners to have an effective vegetable gardening guide to assist the enthusiastic public regarding their concern for personal vegetable gardening.

Guide in Planning your Garden

To effectively create a sustainable garden, it is important to create a balanced and well-thought out plan that can provide adequately the necessary element for healthy plant growth. Having a plan can aid in gaining a sustainable and desirable produce satisfying the interest of the person involved for the gardening project. For this interest, it is important to consider looking into vegetable gardening guides that are widely available in the present.

With the growing trend in personal vegetable gardening interests, various measures for vegetable gardening guides are now available for people to avail of the important information for the success of their gardening. These vegetable gardening guides contain in them information for assistance and reference on how to develop a sustainable and healthy vegetable garden.

These vegetable gardening guides can be accessed in various mediums and channels such as in printed books materials, magazines, internet, online forums, television programs, and others. Considering availing of the benefits and assistance inside reliable vegetable gardening guides can effectively aid the interest of food production and its result for the health interest of the person involved.

Vegetable gardening guides are important tools for the successful project of interested individuals. These guides are applicable for various stages and tasks involved in the general vegetable production. Starting from the initial stage of plot planning and layout, vegetable gardening guides provide significant facts that are beneficial in creating a sustainable design for a healthy plant growth.

Even for the vegetable planting, vegetable gardening guides also become the reference and assistance tool necessary for the effective completion of this task. These vegetable gardening planting guides provide significant information for planting, nurturing, supporting growth, and protecting the vegetable garden and its produce. Indeed, vegetable gardening guides are the significant tool for achieving success in this project.

In general, vegetable gardening guides are necessary elements for effective plant production project and with its help, interested individual can gain healthy and safe vegetable produce out of the success of their own effort and interest.

If you love this article, you will also love another article written by this article’s author on best spider pest control and safe pest control.

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Herb Garden Design

Herb Garden Design

Herb garden design should take into account how easy will it be to get to your herbs. If you plan to have a larger home herb garden, you might want to build a few small paths to reach all the herbs in your garden. Paths can also guide a user through a variety of fragrances produced by the herbs. A popular design resembles a cart-wheel with the wheel spokes translating into the garden paths. Gravel, brick or paving make good path material. Here the different herb types are grouped in rows.

The size and type of garden depends on personal interest, time, and space of the person planting the herb garden. If you are new to herb gardening, I recommend you start small. Some people like to mix their herbs with a mixture of flowers and vegetables plants. Your herb garden design should include a way for you to identify your herbs and a clear path to get to each herb.

Make sure that when you design your herb garden you put it in a place that gets plenty of direct sunlight. Herbs need about 4 to 6 hours of sunlight or more per day. You can have rosemary, chamomile, mint, basil lavender and oregano in your indoor herb garden. You can buy a set of new gardening pots for your indoor herb. Indoor herbs will grow in any kind of containers just make sure that the container has proper drainage.

Perennial herbs, however, will do better if you place them outdoors during the summer. Check for extremes in temperature since herbs don’t take to them too well. Heat from the kitchen stove or radiator might shrivel and dry up your indoor herb garden. Ensure that the herbs get 6 – 8 hours of light every day. Keep on the lookout for insect infestation. You can rinse off any insects you see on your herbs. Avoid use of insecticides. Herbs can be used for cooking, tea and potpourri or just to enjoy their sharp fragrance.

Proper soil is an essential part of growing indoor herbs. Mix soil with sand and a small amount of lime to give your herbs the best soil condition possible. It would essential for its growth. And, before adding soil to your container, layer the bottom with gravel to make sure if it has suitable drainage.

Many herbs can be successfully grown in containers. Container-grown herbs can be designed to accommodate nearly any setting or need and are a great alternative to gardening in small areas. They can also be arranged into attractive groupings and changed around or moved as needed.

Herb garden designs are not too hard to maintain and can be done even by a beginner who would acquire the skills in the process. All level of skilled gardeners can try their hand in herb gardening and enjoy its simple yet effective results. There are different ways to design an herb garden. The best herb garden design is one that works for you.

What are you waiting for? Sean has been writing about herb gardens for several years. For more information on herb garden design, visit http://www.ezherbgarden.com.

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Growing a Great Container Garden

Growing a Great Container Garden

Nothing beats fresh vegetables out of your own garden. The taste of a freshly picked tomato is pure heaven and digging your own new, red potatoes is so rewarding. But what do you do if you don’t have a large yard or no yard at all? No problem! You can grow a vegetable garden in a container!

Many people think of container gardening as an easy way to grow beautiful flowers and accent patios and porches with color. But have you ever tried adding a few vegetables in with the flowers? Growing vegetables and herbs in containers is just as easy as growing flowers and you get delicious results! You can mix a cherry tomato plant in with a pot of marigolds and snapdragons. The bright red fruit is a beautiful addition to the colorful blooms. Put a couple of red potato starts in a large planter with a few flowers, the foliage of potato plants is very beautiful and you will also have a few tiny white flowers as well.
H
ow about dedicating a few planters to just produce? Strawberries often produce more fruit when planted in a container because they don’t have much room to spread. Strawberry plants spread by sending out runners that root down and start a new plant. Once the strawberries run out of room to send out shoots, they put all their energy into producing fruit.  How delicious to have fresh strawberries just outside your door!

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning a container garden.  

Properly prepare your pot. Your pot will need good drainage so make sure it has drainage holes drilled in the bottom. If your pot does not have drainage holes, either drill holes or create a drainage area by adding a layer of gravel at the bottom. If you have a very large pot, you can create a drainage area and eliminate the need for large quantities of soil by adding a layer of styrofoam at the bottom.  This will also make the pot easier to move around. Just remember to add enough soil for the plants to have a good root system.

Don’t use garden soil. The soil in your yard is generally too heavy for container use. A container gardening needs light soil that is rich in organic material for proper drainage.  Mix regular potting soil with compost and peat moss to get a healthy soil that is perfect for containers.  It is a good idea to mix in time release fertilizer while you are mixing the soil. Most time release fertilizers last about three months so plan to add more at that time.

When you are transplanting new plants, dig the hole about twice as large as the plants root ball.  Then back fill the hole with some loose soil, this will give the tender roots soft soil to anchor in. Before you place the plant in the hole, massage the roots to break them up slightly. The plant roots have been confined to a small area while they are getting their start, however they need to break free and they need a little help from you to do that.

Give your plants a healthy start by using a root starting fertilizer as you are planting. Mix the liquid fertilizer with water and add it as you plant each new plant to your container.  Root starting fertilizers contain the proper nutrients that help to prevent transplant shock.  

Trim the plant after you plant it. This is a difficult thing for most gardeners to do. After all you just bought a beautiful, full plant at the store! You need to remember that the plant needs to put effort into building a strong root system. This is difficult if the plant is trying to maintain full blooms or large amounts of foliage as well.  A good rule of thumb is to cut off the plant by two thirds. Don’t worry, your plant will grow back fuller and healthier than before.

Combine plants with similar requirements. If a plant requires full sun, don’t pair it up with a plant that does best in partial shade. Careful planning will yield the best results in container gardening.  

Containers are a great way to have fresh produce all summer long. Growing your own fresh produce is rewarding and allows you to provide healthy food for your family. Give container gardening a try, you will love the results!

Piper is a freelance writer who enjoys fitness, good nutrition, and the outdoors. She loves to work in the garden with her small garden tiller. She enjoys nature, reading and fitness. Check out her new website, http://www.smallgardentiller.org to learn all about getting the best small garden tiller so you can have a beautiful garden too!

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Learn How to Care for a Container Garden

Learn How to Care for a Container Garden

Now that you have planted your flowers, foliage, or vegetables in their containers, you need to know how to care for them. Just like your outside garden, container gardens require nurturing to keep the plants productive and healthy.


One of the challenges of container gardening is the fact that a pot is an unnatural place for flowers and vegetables to grow. Soil dries out faster and roots can become cramped.


Also, the containers themselves are prone to drainage and decay problems. In addition, they need to be tended more often because they are so visible on your patio or deck. Plants that are not maintained properly can get pretty ugly.


On the plus side, many containers can be moved easily, allowing you to protect plants in poor weather and to move them into sun or shade as necessary.


Also, because they are well contained, managing the container plants is not an overwhelming task, nor does it require a great deal of time. If a plant should die, it’s a simple matter to replace it.


Here are a few things to think about when caring for your container garden:


Watering


Watering is one of the most important aspects of plant care. Without water, plants will not live produce flowers, vegetables or herbs. In an outside garden, plants can extend their roots to find the moisture they need when the soil next to them runs dry. This is not possible, however, in containers.


For this reason, any plant in a pot requires more regular watering than one planted in an outside garden the general rule for almost all plant varieties, whether inside or outside, is to keep the soil moist but not soggy during the growing season.


If your plant has wilted leaves or flowers, it is probably stressed from lack of water. A container with a dry plant will weigh less than anyone that is properly watered.


Fertilizing


When a container plant runs out of food, it has nowhere to go to replenish it. Even if you buy potting mixes that contain nutrients, the plant will use them up within a month or so. Some of it is taken up by the roots and some is lost through drainage.


The solution is to mix in some fertilizer twice a month with your watering, or to periodically add compost as a top dressing. The nutrient most necessary to plants is nitrogen. it helps the development of leaves and its growth.


Nitrogen deficiency shows itself by turning the leaves a pale shade of green or yellow. Too much nitrogen can delay a plant’s bloom or crop.


The other nutrients that plants need are potassium, for hardiness and color, and phosphorus, for root formation. Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus are available in complete fertilizer form or as separate ingredients that you can mix yourself.


When you apply fertilizer, make sure that the soil is moist by watering beforehand. This will help to prevent chemical burns.


Pruning


Most plants will require some pruning, especially those grown in containers. Some people may be afraid to prune their plants for fear of killing them. However, if a mistake is made in pruning, it will not usually kill the plant.


Pruning includes the removal of dead or dying stems or branches so that the strongest can survive. Sometimes, trimming also means clipping flowers, normally only toward the end of their bloom. This is called deadheading.


Controlling Pests


Pests are just as apt to visit container gardens as an outside garden. It is fortunate that pests are easier to control on plants that are planted in pots.


The key to pest control starts with the plans that you select and the soil that you use. Some plants have a natural resistance to pests.


Do not use soil that has been used before unless it has been sterilized. Better yet, purchase new soil for new plantings.


Inspect plants periodically to check for bugs and larvae. Sometimes all you need to do is pick them off your plant leaves. Other times, they will require chemical or natural insecticides.


Diseases


Usually by the time you know that a plant is diseased, too much damage has been done to it to save it. These plants should be quarantined or removed. Signs of disease include rust colored leaves or spots on the plants.


Container gardens are less likely to become diseased than those plants that are planted in a regular garden. And, if they should become diseased, it is easier to isolate them from the rest of the garden.


Caring for your container garden is not a difficult task if you use common sense. The main thing to remember is that container gardens will dry out much faster than a regular garden. That is the most common reason that plants do not grow or produce as expected.

For more information on Container Gardening visit GuideForGardeners.com, a website that provides tips and information on all types of gardening.

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Growing An Outdoor Potted Herb Garden

Growing An Outdoor Potted Herb Garden

When growing a potted herb garden outdoors, many believe the plants should be in a pot to get best results. Such plants as rosemary, chives and mint are said to be best planted in pots in order to keep them from taking over the rest of the garden. If you decide you need to plant any herbs in a pot, there are some things you should keep in mind to get the best possible results. Growing herbs is only as hard as you allow it to be. In this article you will find information that should make it easier for you.

Choose the herbs you are going to plant in pots rather than in the regular garden. The choice can be dues to either the kind of herb it is, or because of ornamental purposes. As stated above, the most popular plants to put into pots are the ones that have a tendency to take over a garden. This does not mean they are the only ones, which can be planted in a pot. Other good herbs to plant in a pot include lavender because of the height at which they grow. The other reason is because the flowers tend to be attractive when separated and will end up flavoring the rest of the plants around it.

When planting a potted herb garden, take into consideration the soil you are planting in. Many people have a tendency to try and plant in all potting soil because they are planting in a pot. The problem with this is planting soil, is too high in nutrients. Herbs prefer soil that is low in nutrients and in order to create the right mixture of nutrients, acidity and draining ability, you will need to mix a few things together. Mix together equal parts of potting soil, loose dirt and sand together. The angular quality of the sand will help to create a soil, which does not retain excessive water. Make sure the mixture gets about one tablespoon of lime depending on the size of the pot.

Because the herbs are in a pot, you can move them as needed. This may become necessary in different parts of the season in order to make sure they are still getting all the sunlight they need in order to grow properly. Most herbs require at least 8 hours of sunlight a day in order to grow properly. As the summer gives way to fall, the days get shorter and plants become unhealthy. This is due as much to the temperature as it is due to the amount of sun plants are getting.

Temperature is very important to a potted herb garden. A great way you can protect your potted herbs as the nights get colder is to use netting bags. These bags attach to the rim of the pot and billow over the top of the plant. It will trap in heat from the soil so that the cool night air will not harm it. As the days get colder, you can leave the bag on during the day also. When the first frost comes, you will need to pull in your last harvest and make cuttings for next year.

Brian Chamberlain has been an Herb Garden enthusiast for many years. For more great information on a potted herb garden, visit his site at: http://www.secretsofaherbgarden.com while you are there make sure you sign up for his FREE 10 part Secrets of
a Herb Garden Mini-Course.

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Growing a Great Container Garden

Growing a Great Container Garden

Nothing beats fresh vegetables out of your own garden. The taste of a freshly picked tomato is pure heaven and digging your own new, red potatoes is so rewarding. But what do you do if you don’t have a large yard or no yard at all? No problem! You can grow a vegetable garden in a container!

Many people think of container gardening as an easy way to grow beautiful flowers and accent patios and porches with color. But have you ever tried adding a few vegetables in with the flowers? Growing vegetables and herbs in containers is just as easy as growing flowers and you get delicious results! You can mix a cherry tomato plant in with a pot of marigolds and snapdragons. The bright red fruit is a beautiful addition to the colorful blooms. Put a couple of red potato starts in a large planter with a few flowers, the foliage of potato plants is very beautiful and you will also have a few tiny white flowers as well.
H
ow about dedicating a few planters to just produce? Strawberries often produce more fruit when planted in a container because they don’t have much room to spread. Strawberry plants spread by sending out runners that root down and start a new plant. Once the strawberries run out of room to send out shoots, they put all their energy into producing fruit.  How delicious to have fresh strawberries just outside your door!

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning a container garden.  

Properly prepare your pot. Your pot will need good drainage so make sure it has drainage holes drilled in the bottom. If your pot does not have drainage holes, either drill holes or create a drainage area by adding a layer of gravel at the bottom. If you have a very large pot, you can create a drainage area and eliminate the need for large quantities of soil by adding a layer of styrofoam at the bottom.  This will also make the pot easier to move around. Just remember to add enough soil for the plants to have a good root system.

Don’t use garden soil. The soil in your yard is generally too heavy for container use. A container gardening needs light soil that is rich in organic material for proper drainage.  Mix regular potting soil with compost and peat moss to get a healthy soil that is perfect for containers.  It is a good idea to mix in time release fertilizer while you are mixing the soil. Most time release fertilizers last about three months so plan to add more at that time.

When you are transplanting new plants, dig the hole about twice as large as the plants root ball.  Then back fill the hole with some loose soil, this will give the tender roots soft soil to anchor in. Before you place the plant in the hole, massage the roots to break them up slightly. The plant roots have been confined to a small area while they are getting their start, however they need to break free and they need a little help from you to do that.

Give your plants a healthy start by using a root starting fertilizer as you are planting. Mix the liquid fertilizer with water and add it as you plant each new plant to your container.  Root starting fertilizers contain the proper nutrients that help to prevent transplant shock.  

Trim the plant after you plant it. This is a difficult thing for most gardeners to do. After all you just bought a beautiful, full plant at the store! You need to remember that the plant needs to put effort into building a strong root system. This is difficult if the plant is trying to maintain full blooms or large amounts of foliage as well.  A good rule of thumb is to cut off the plant by two thirds. Don’t worry, your plant will grow back fuller and healthier than before.

Combine plants with similar requirements. If a plant requires full sun, don’t pair it up with a plant that does best in partial shade. Careful planning will yield the best results in container gardening.  

Containers are a great way to have fresh produce all summer long. Growing your own fresh produce is rewarding and allows you to provide healthy food for your family. Give container gardening a try, you will love the results!

Piper is a freelance writer who enjoys fitness, good nutrition, and the outdoors. She loves to work in the garden with her small garden tiller. She enjoys nature, reading and fitness. Check out her new website, http://www.smallgardentiller.org to learn all about getting the best small garden tiller so you can have a beautiful garden too!

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