Container Gardens—The Perfect Choice
With urban dwelling options expanding to include live/work, mixed-use, co-housing, senior housing complexes, and condominiums, it is no wonder that the number of container gardeners has more than doubled over the last five years. Here’s why. Container gardens are:
Adaptable—grow where traditional gardens are not possible.
Portable—can be moved from spot to spot to protect or benefit from changing weather conditions, or readily transported to a new home.
Creative—allow for imaginative combinations of plants, flowers, furnishings, found objects and accessories.
Versatile—great for vegetables, flowers, herbs, colors and fragrance; attractive to butterflies and other pollinators.

And they are an ideal solution for people with limited time to care for a large landscape. With proper care, your container garden will thrive and provide lasting color, fragrance, edibles and enjoyment. The basic ingredients for successful container gardening are water, fertilizer, drainage and light. Here are some pointers and links to excellent instructions for container garden care.

Water
Container gardens need more frequent watering than “in-ground” gardens, since soil in a container dries out much more quickly than soil in the garden. How often you water will depend on the size and materials of your containers, plant types and sizes, and wind and sun exposure. The rule of thumb is to water when the soil feels dry a couple of inches down—you can check by inserting your fingers. Morning is the best time to water. Water thoroughly using a fine, gentle spray until water is absorbed and drains out the container’s holes. For excellent watering instructions, see www.worldwise.com/garconandcon.html; www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07238.html; and www.citygardening.net/watering

Fertilizer
Unlike plants planted in the natural garden landscape, container garden plants are dependent on their gardeners for nutrients. In addition, the frequent watering required washes nutrients from the soil. Consequently, it is important to keep your container garden well fed. For expert advice on fertilizers and fertilizing, see www.worldwise.com/garconandcon.html and www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07238.html.

Drainage
Good drainage is essential to a healthy plant. Soggy or waterlogged soil surrounding a plant’s root system hinders nutrient uptake and can lead to root rot. To ensure good drainage and proper soil aeration, elevate your containers on pottery or wooden “feet” or support them on bricks. Containers gardens should not be allowed to sit in standing water accumulated in saucers. If your container lacks adequate drainage, add extra drainage holes at the bottom using an electric drill and a masonry bit. For more information on drainage and elevating containers, see www.worldwise.com/garconandcon.html

Light
Herbaceous & Woody designs container gardens using plant combinations based on similar light needs. All you have to do is keep your container garden in a location where the right amount of sunlight is available. Remember to turn the containers occasionally to maximize light exposure on all sides. Because plant growth can falter because of too much, or too little, available light, portability is a plus. You can move your garden as the amount of available sunlight alters with the seasons.

Small Container Water Gardens
Place your garden in a partially sunny location. Maintain the garden’s water level by adding water every few days as it evaporates. When plants begin to grow, add an aquatic fertilizer tablet near roots. Herbaceous & Woody’s container water gardens come equipped with a mosquito ring; if mosquito larvae develop, simply replace the ring. If algae develop, remove the water plants, empty the container, clean if necessary, refill with clean water, and reposition the plants.