CONTAINER GARDENING
By Trey Pitsenberger, co-owner Golden Gecko

Since earliest times, people have needed and enjoyed plants. Where the climate was unfavorable, or the soil or water was scarce, containers made it possible to garden anywhere. From the owner of country acreage to the city gardener who’s “land” extends no further than a balcony or a windowsill.

Container gardening is truly and art. But it is well worth learning. Setting a stage for container plants enhances the beauty of each plant, and its beauty is also enhanced by the very fact that it is in a container.

The range of plant material is endless, indeed. Many plants seem to show up to much better advantage growing in containers than they do in the garden. Japanese maples, spiraled conifers, and weeping cherry trees make great focal plants. You can create a water garden that delights the eye with its beauty and the ear with the sound of moving water. Many vegetables, herbs and annuals can be grown in containers. For shady locations, plants such as azaleas, tuberous begonias, pieris, and ferns will do nicely.

There are many kinds of containers available. Clay pots, wooden boxes, barrels, tubs, ceramic, metal and plastic. All should have drainage holes in the bottom except when using containers for water gardening, where the container should hold water.

TIP: Use FOXFARM OCEAN FOREST POTTING SOIL. It is organically formulated for indoor and outdoor container plants. Use Osmocote time release fertilizer to feed the plants.

Container gardening can be practiced anywhere, on a porch, window sill, or near a pool or pond. And best of all, with plant or water container gardening you can make you home a beautiful and happy place.