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| Container Garden Ideas |  |
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Step 1 - Consider location
Consider how much sun your container will get and then choose your plants according to the recommended sun or shade requirements. |
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Step 2 - Select your container
Select a container with drainage holes in the bottom. Remember smaller containers will dry out faster so you may need to water more often. |
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Step 3 - Fill your container with soil
'Soiless media' is a great choice for your container. It will contain peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. The key to a good media is that it provides proper drainage but also has water holding capacity. Fill to 2" from top. |
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Step 4 - Choose your fertilizer
You can choose either a slow-release type or a water-soluble one. Slow-release fertilizer is incorporated into the soil prior to planting and lasts 3 to 4 months. Osmocote 14-14-14 is an example. Water-soluble fertilizer, such as Miracle Gro 20-20-20, is added on a weekly or bi-weekly basis according the manufacturer's instructions. |
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Step 5 - Plant
Plan out where your plants will be situated. Start with the center and work out from there. Dig a hole a bit larger than the container that the original plant came in. Carefully remove the plant from the pot by tipping it upside down. If the plant is very dry, you can moisten it first. Loosen the roots gently to encourage growth in the new container. Place in the hole, fill with soil and gently press down. When all the plants are where you want them, you may want to add a bit more soil. |
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Crunched up aluminum soda cans will create light bulk in large pots and containers. Less soil to fill, lighter pot to lift! |
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| Pinching off buds and flowers from flats of ever blooming annuals before you
plant will help them settle in and put their energy into new growth. |
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| Plants with variegated foliage prefer less sun and may "burn" if over exposed. |
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| Many annuals give off a scent. Try dianthus, sweet alyssum, candytuft, petunia, heliotrope, or sweet pea. To get the most enjoyment from fragrant plants, position your containers where your nose will find them: on your deck; close to a window; on the edges of your garden, patio, pathway or porch. |
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| Check the links on the right side of this page. They include resources and more information to help you create beautiful container gardens! |
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How much sun? |
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Full Sun:
8 to 12 hours of sun
per day
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Part Sun:
4 to 8 hours of sun
per day
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Shade:
2 to 4 hours of early or
late sun per day
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Resource links |
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