Container Garden – How to Keep it Looking Fresh

It seems that water retention is the main problem many gardeners find with their container plants. The plants tend to dry out in summer and become waterlogged in winter. During those hot summer days, water your pots and containers twice a day if necessary depending on the size of your plant and the size of the pot Your plants do transpire naturally, however, they lose moisture when there is less soil to hold it.

Sophisticated Container Planting Groups

The trend this year is to have lots of repetition of color and texture in your garden planter groupings. Start with the simple lines of modern pots and limit the number of plants. One possible combination begins with the feathery yew, the bold coleus and of course the fine Japanese ornamental grass each in its own container. The gold theme in the needles and blades of grass compliment each other. What could be simpler and very sophisticated.

Garden Pot – Great Planting Idea

We are planning our container garden and wondering what would look best in our pots and garden planters. Here is an idea. Place three Intensia Lavender Glow Phlox plants in your 14” container (one in the middle and two on the sides) and alternate with two Coral Bells (Heuchera) in Blackcurrent Dolce. This arrangement looks terrific - the larger the container the greater the effect.

Patio Border Using Planters & Containers

If you don’t have a built in rail or edge to your deck or patio, you can always create the same effect using containers. Line an entire row of matched garden planters, pots and containers, simulating built-ins, or clusters or different sizes and shapes. Just fill with a variety of plant material. Your have created a border and a garden at the same time.

Bring Spring into Your Home

Are you impatient for winter to end? One way that you can enjoy a little bit of Spring while there is still snow on the ground is to force flowers indoors. Just go out and cut the branches. When you bring your pussy willows, forsythia and dogwood home, place them in water right away and with sharp pruning shears cut the ends off under water. Fill your floral container with warm water. After several hours, change the water and add floral preservative and once again re-cut the stems under water. They are beautiful.

Color Trend Decor for your Containers

Every year there seems to be something new and exciting – this year when you group your large planters and containers on the deck or patio, think about keeping the plant variations into warm and hot categories – not the random, funky combinations of the past.

Garden Planters – The Best Soil Conditions

Enough cannot be said for having great soil for your garden planters and containers. We have found over the years that peat-based mixes containing peat and vermiculite are excellent and easily found at your garden centre. They are relatively sterile and pH adjusted. This soil does not compact down and allows the plants to get enough air and water. Mixing in one part compost to two parts planting mix will improve fertility as well.