Container garden planting tips

When putting planting a container garden, avoid real soil. Instead, choose a soil-less mix, a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite sold as patio or container mix.

The potting mix should be fluffy and just moist for planting. Put a piece of broken pottery or small stone over drainage hole to prevent mix from leaking out.

Filling your containers for planting

Use a soil-less mix such as Pro-Mix

Fill container three quarters full with potting mix, keeping it fluffy (don't press down too hard).

Remove plants from pots, gently teasing roots apart if necessary, and place inside container.

If you are worried about potted plants drying out, try adding moisture retaining crystals to your potting mix.

These polymers absorb up to 200 times their weight in water, then release it gradually as plants need it.

More container tips

1. Container plants are asked to produce masses of flowers in a tight space, so be sure to fertilize. The easy way is to mix slow-release fertilizer pellets into the top couple of inches of potting soil. (Follow package directions for amount.) The fertilizer beads are covered with a coating that gradually releases nutrients all season long.
2. Fill gaps between container plants with potting mix, firming down gently. Avoid packing pots right up to the rim – leave about an inch free as a reservoir for easier watering.
3. To finish, water throughly. Throughout the season, check your pots daily and water until water comes out through the drainage hole. Consistent moisture is a must during the hot months of summer, so consider installing an easy-maintenance automatic drip patio irrigation system.
4. Other watering solutions include self-watering containers or using adjustable water reservoirs to turn ordinary pots into self-watering planters.

The best plant pots for your container garden

A hand-thrown terra cotta pot
makes a great focal point

Choose good sized container so your plantings can be more interesting, and for easier maintenance. Bigger containers don't dry out so quickly.

Terra cotta: A time-honored classic material that's porous and allows oxygen to get to roots.

However terra cotta is heavy and easily chipped or broken and generally not frost-proof, so store indoors in winter. The best terra cotta comes from Italy.

Glazed ceramic: This material has the same advantages and disadvantages as terra cotta. Available in many attractive colors. Not frost-proof, needs indoor storage for winter.

Plastic and molded polyethylene (fake terra cotta or stone): Light, easy to move, polyethylene looks like real thing. It doesn't chip or break and is frost-proof. Not porous like terra cotta, so good drainage is essential. Raise pot on blocks so drain holes not obstructed. Go for quality as cheap plastic pots degrade quickly in UV rays.

Wooden barrels, window boxes: Attractive, readily available; can be built to sizes and shapes that suit the location. Large-sized containers heavy to move. Deteriorates quickly unless protected from moisture, so line interior with plastic sheeting.