Guess what? You don’t have to have a huge yard, let alone acres of property, to have a successful garden. Even if all you have is a tiny balcony or some grass along the edges of your driveway, containers can transform your space into an area of beauty.
It’s important to select containers that have enough volume to nurture the plants you want to display. It’s not enough just to hold the plant and the root ball, of course; you have to also have enough room for there to be plenty of soil and for the plant to be able to grow a bit. This is one reason it is better to shop at a home improvement store or even a nursery instead of a big-box retailer for your plants; you can talk about your specific plants with a salesperson, who can guide you toward a particular container — or at least toward a particular size.
Black and brown containers might blend in better with the soil around them, but they will also absorb more heat. This may not seem like a huge factor, but if you live in a part of the world that gets really hot during the summer, you’ll be basically putting your plants into small ovens to sit all day — and to continue to cook all night, as the heat stays in the containers. You don’t want this to happen to your plants, so choose beige or terra cotta colored containers to hold your plants.
At the bottom of your containers, there should be some holes for drainage. You do want your plants to get plenty of water, but you do not want the moisture to sit in the soil and cause rot along the roots. This won’t be a problem if you live in an arid area, unless you have a big storm or two, but if you live in an area that is temperate at all, in terms of rainfall, you’ll want a container with plenty of drain holes to allow excess water to flow out.
Do you have lower back issues? Do you have difficulty bending down and getting back up? If so, you may want to buy a long rack to put them on or buy containers with pedestals so that you can work with your plants more easily. After all, gardening is supposed to be a source of joy — not a source of pain. This means that you should choose containers at a height that will work with you — not against you.
Make sure that your containers match the decor of the rest of your outside setting. If you already have beige outdoor furniture on your patio, choose beige containers to fit in. Remember to stay with lighter colors that complement what you already have going on.
Containers can take on a variety of forms, from old plastic soda bottles to old kiddie pools. Just like any hobby, this is supposed to be fun, so spend some time being creative with your container gardening!