Container Gardening Tips for a Vibrant Summer
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STORY BY VIRGINIA BESHEARS
Ready to dive into the wonderful world of container gardening? Get your hands dirty, embrace your inner green thumb, and watch your plants bloom with joy right at your doorstep. Your future self will thank you for the endless beauty you'll enjoy all summer long. There are so many reasons to try container gardening, and a few things to consider as hot weather approaches.
One of the most significant advantages of container gardening is flexibility. It provides an opportunity to garden in limited spaces such as balconies, patios, or even windowsills, making it accessible to urban dwellers and those with small yards. Even if you have plenty of yard space, it’s quite a big commitment to rip out your existing landscaping to make room to garden. Containers give you the opportunity to branch out (no pun intended) and grow as many different kinds of plants as your heart desires.
Containers also make maintenance easy. With containers, you have full control over the soil type and watering amount, allowing you to create the perfect growing conditions for many kinds of plants. Containers allow you to move your plants to optimize sunlight exposure or protect them from harsh weather conditions. On top of that, it also allows for better pest and disease management, making less work for you. Containers reduce the risk of soil-borne issues, can help keep your plants safe from critters like rabbits and squirrels, and hardly ever require weeding.
The summer sun can be intense, and it's important to protect your container garden during the months of higher temperatures. The containers themselves can be helpful in protecting your plants from the heat.
Terracotta is a breathable material, allowing for better airflow and preventing excess moisture buildup, which reduces the risk of root rot in cool weather. This also helps regulate soil temperature, keeping plant roots cooler in hot weather. Non-breathable pots run the risk of baking the roots of the plants they house.
Also in hot weather, you can water the outside of terracotta pots when you water your plants, and the pots will soak the water in and stay cool for several extra hours.
There are also a number of self-watering planters available, that come with a built-in water reservoir that can be very helpful in hot weather, when the sun dries the soil quickly.
Glazed containers are a bit of a risk in hot weather, as the surface isn’t breathable and doesn’t allow heat to escape. However, they are much better at protecting your plants from the cold, so if you’re in a region where the winter is more of a concern than summer heat, glazed pots may be a better option. Plus, they look amazing and give any outdoor space a lovely pop of color.
Ensure your container garden's success by using high-quality potting soil, which provides adequate nutrients and proper drainage. During the summer, the soil in containers tends to dry out quickly, so it's essential to monitor moisture levels regularly. Water your plants deeply, ensuring that the soil is evenly moist. To avoid overwatering, check the soil's moisture and water only when the top inch feels dry. Remember to fertilize your container plants with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to support healthy growth and blooming.
Here’s our favorite soil recipe:
2 parts pre-moistened coir
2 parts compost
1 part perlite
1/4 part vermiculite
1 tablespoon garden lime per gallon of coir
When it comes to selecting plants for your summer container garden, choose species that thrive in warm weather. Mixing several types of hosta in one container can look really beautiful, as can mixing caladiums.
