No matter where you live or how little space you have, you probably have room for a container garden. Containers give you flowers without the effort of a full scale garden. Use containers to accent decks, patios, and steps; use window boxes to improve your view from inside as well as from your yard. Even shrubs and small trees can be grown successfully in containers. Containers add beauty and interest to even the smallest spaces and will give you opportunities to grow flowers you wouldn't ordinarily be able to grow in your area because of soil conditions and other growing requirements.

Easy Flowers For Containers
Annuals Marigolds Lantana Zinnia Geranium Ageratum Coleus Salvia	Perennials Flax Cornflower Ivy Daisies Hosta Cyclamen Columbine	Bulbs Tulips Hyacinth Iris Crocus Snowdrops Daffodils Lilies

Use a prepackaged soil mix specially formulated for the types of flowers you will be using, or make your own using two parts garden soil, one part sphagnum moss, and one part sand. All containers should have drainage holes, line the bottom with a layer of gravel to prevent soil loss. Rotate containers often to keep the plants growing straight and full on all sides. Deadhead plants often for a longer flowering season. Most annuals will stop blooming if allowed to produce seed. Never let your containers dry out, they require more frequent watering than flower beds, and small containers tend to dry out root systems quickly. Some may need to be watered every day if in full sun or wind. Use a fertilizer high in phosphorous for flowering plants. Dilute liquid fertilizers such as Miracle-Gro by half and use more often than recommended for flower beds. Cover the exposed soil surface around flowers in containers with a 2" layer of bark, sphagnum moss, or mulch; this will help cool the soil, retain moisture, and improve soil fertility.

Maidenhair Fern and Begonias White Candytuft and Lobelia White Petunias and Nasturtium Red Celosia and Marigolds Coleus and Flowering Kale Caladium and Pink Impatiens Coleus, Impatiens, and Ivy Primroses and Pansies

Red Salvia and Dusty Miller White Geraniums and Pink Petunias Tulips and Pink Hyacinth Caladium and Impatiens Daisies and Dwarf Marigolds Pink Impatiens and Blue Lobelia Nasturtium and Marigolds Begonias and Impatiens

      

Hanging Baskets are more exposed to the elements and need a little more care and attention than other containers. During summer, water once daily, more often if the containers are in full sun on a windy day. Use a diluted liquid fertilizer or plant food weekly.

Flowers for Hanging Baskets
Trailing Lobelia Impatiens Nasturtium Trailing Vinca Impatiens Fuchsia Verbena	Asparagus Fern English Ivy Begonias Sweet Allyssum Ivy Geranium Morning Glory Browallia

    

A window box can be easily constructed in an evening. Use exterior plywood treated to withstand weathering. For most plants, a box ten inches wide and at least eight inches deep will be satisfactory. Make the length of the box equal to the width of your window. Drill holes one half inch in diameter, regularly spaced in the bottom for drainage. Mount with steel shelf brackets. Cover bottom with a layer of broken clay pot fragments. Fill with any lightweight potting soil, thoroughly mixing in one cup of slow-release dry fertilizer or plant food. Plant with miniature roses, geraniums, any combination of annuals; or plant herbs for a kitchen window garden. For color lasting all season, plant with crocus, tulips, daffodils, iris, and lilies. Building Instructions Winter Green Window Box Beautiful Leaves Window Box Pink Window Box

Container soil for trees and shrubs should be basically the same as for other plants. Keep in mind, though, these containers will be much heavier. If you plan to move your container shrubs and trees around, choose a light-weight potting soil mix.

Shrubs and small trees suitable for containers include Spirea, Roses, Hydrangea, Oregon Grape, Flowering Quince, Deutzia, Dogwoods, Evergreen Shrubs, Rhododendron, Azalea, and Mock Orange.

Planting Techniques
Trees to Plant in Containers
Growing Fruit Trees in Containers
Trees For Container Gardens
Flowering Shrubs for Containers






      

Grouping Containers	Hanging Baskets
Unusual Containers	Spring Pastels
Purple Chaos	Desert Garden
Hanging Garnish	Summer Fiesta
Herbal Bath Garden	Container Water Garden
Tuscan Citrus	Summer Butterfly
Spring Bouquet	Wire Frame Baskets
Winter Lace	Tiny Treasures
Fall Fiery Foliage	Bulbs in Containers
Herbs for Containers	Perennials for Containers
Making Topiaries	Rules for Containers
Heavenly Hanging Baskets	Colorful Containers
Different Ideas	Choosing Containers
Roses in Containers	Containers Designs

My Flowers Slideshow

Rose Gardens

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