Ready to start container gardening? Add some green life around your home with these 5 easy tips on container gardening for beginners!
Have you ever driven by a house with charming pots of plants leading up to its front door? Have you ever thought about creating the same look for your own house, but then felt completely overwhelmed while visiting your local nursery? With literally hundreds of plants to choose from, it can feel more than a little bit intimidating!
Even so, container gardening is a wonderful way to bring a garden to your home, no matter if you live in an apartment, condo, mobile home, or two-story house on acreage. It’s also much easier than you might think! Another great benefit of container gardening is the ability to make it a one time expense and have the rewards for years to come. I’m going on year seven with two of my containers.
To make container planting a success for your home, just follow these five easy steps:
The most important part of a container is that it has a drain hole, or is a material that can be drilled to provide a few drain holes. You can choose a more permanent container like a whiskey barrel or go for smaller containers you can move around your yard or porch. I’ve seen containers made from old boots or rusted out wheel barrows, bird cages, even old dresser drawers. My husband even hollowed out a round of wood for a Mother’s Day gift a few years ago. Be as creative as you like.
Be sure the container is large enough for the plants you want. If it’s especially deep, I advise putting rocks in the bottom to help with drainage, plus you won’t require as much soil. Speaking of soil…
If you’re only growing non-edible plants in your container, than almost any soil mix you pick is fine. I recommend going with a potting soil mix that will release plant food over time such as Miracle grow. But, if you’re going to grow edibles (free food anyone?) then I highly suggest using only organic compost or organic potting soil. Miracle Grow also has an organic option.
You can find soil mixes at any big box store in the garden section like K-Mart, Walmart, Fred Meyers, Home Depot, etc. Or head to a local plant nursery. The beauty of plant nurseries is you get plants grown in your region so they usually perform better. Nurseries will also have potting soil mixes and usually bags of compost available, too. Plus, the staff at nurseries will answer questions, give helpful advice, and specialize in plants.
You can purchase a good sized bag of organic potting soil for less than $10. Or, if you have a gardening friend who composts, they might be happy to give you a few shovel fulls to get you started.
Because plants in containers can’t absorb nutrients from the soil, it’s important to give them some type of food by the dirt you put inside the container. You can even add your own soil additives from some of your common kitchen scraps, check out re-using coffee grounds in your garden here.
This is where the fun really begins. If you want the most bang for your buck, then invest in perennials. Perennials come back every year, meaning you won’t have to purchase new plants every spring. Annuals die at the end of their growing season. However, some annuals are gorgeous and can be a fun way to punch up the color factor. You can mix and match perennials with annuals as well.
When first starting out with gardening, it’s best to buy starts and avoid growing from seeds. I recommend going with perennials to save yourself money and time over the long run.
This list includes perennials that are very hardy and virtually impossible to kill:
Need a free option? Ask on Facebook or check Craigslist for folks dividing their perennials in the spring. Many times, you can get free starts of many herbs and flowers this way. It’s how I got my oregano, thyme, mint, and lemon balm.
While I like my container plants to look pretty, I especially like them to double as my mini-grocery store. Many edible plants are wonderful choices for your container gardeners, both as lowering your food bill and as pretty additions.
Many herbs are actually best grown in containers. For instance, all of the mint family performs best in containers as they’re invasive when planted in the ground.
Here is a list of more great edibles to plant:
Nasturtiums are another colorful edible flower. I enjoy nasturtiums in salads as they have a bit of a peppery spice to them. Nasturtiums are very easy to grow from seed, which means tons of flowers for just the price of one small packet of seeds.
Before you plop your plants in the dirt, take some time to decide where you want them in your container. Generally speaking, taller plants are best in the back and center. That way they don’t shade shorter plants and act as a focal point. Next, put your mid-level plants in, with trailing plants on the outer edge.
When planting your plants, lightly pinch the bottom of the container they come from, try not to pull too hard on the stems.
Once free of the plastic container, gently break up the roots before putting them in their hole. You can use your hands, a dull knife, or the edge of your gardening shears. Place the plant in the hole you’ve dug once you’ve loosened the roots. Your goal is to have the crown of the plant (where the stem meets the soil) to be the same level when it’s planted as it was when you purchased it. Tamp down on the dirt around the plant to hold them in place. Give them a good drink of water after planting.
Finally, be sure to enjoy your plants! But be warned, this growing your own food stuff can become addicting–every year we enlarge our garden plot and containers! In my book Pioneering Today-Faith and Home the Old Fashioned Way, I explain practical and easy methods to cook from scratch, garden, preserve your own food, and see God’s fingerprint in your everyday busy life. You’ll learn how to decrease your grocery and energy bill, improve your family’s health by cooking from scratch and over 40 delicious real food recipes, grow and preserve your own food, reduce your time in the kitchen without sacrificing taste and nutrition, and expand your view of God in your daily activities.
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I love growing edibles in containers, so handy to place them right outside the kitchen where you can pop out to cut some fresh herbs while cooking dinner!
Thank you for this great guide on container gardening. I love planting flowers and herbs in containers and our children are loving the venture too!!
I think even if you're just growing non-edible plants you should still use good quality organic soil. I mean, if you care about how nicely your plants grow that is. It's not that big of a price difference between the cheap soils and the better more expensive ones, but it has such a big impact on the health of your plants. I might even argue the soil quality is the most important thing of all, and that even the greenest thumb will struggle to make up for growing plants in cheap low quality soil.
Hi! I want to plant several edible plants. Can you please guide me about the best size of container which should be used? I am a beginner. Please reply
It all depends on where you are wanting to keep your plants. If you are looking to container garden indoors you will want something that can fit near a window or door, so the plants can get natural light. If you are looking to plant outside there are many options available from elevated planting beds to smaller decorative planters. It will also depend on your budget and space.
Thank you, Ruth! I haven't a clear image of what would do. Now, I have an idea to place containers in a window. :)
How do you protect deck from getting dirty?
Heya i am for the first time here. I found this
board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me.
Thanks so much! I'm a newbie and this was extremely helpful...we even videotaped our first effort!
I'm so proud of my efforts!
This is great! I love container planting - this year I did it with direct seed . So much fun when everything starts to germinate. Glad I found this blog - loving it! -Carole at GardenUp green
I always kill plants:/ usually forget to water them or overwater .. What do you suggest for a newbie? Thanks!
Jen,
If you put some good drainage in your pot and fill the bottom with rocks, even if you over water, the roots of the plant won't be sitting in the water. For forgetting to water, put a note/task in your cell phone that goes off to remind you to check the soil for dryness every few days.
I love miracle grow for everything I know im bad but we do use a rain barrel for all our plants all five households involved in our family do. Also being sure to airrate you soil after putting in fresh plants by stabing a fork into the ground in circle about five inches around the plant
If you're using miracle grow for just pretty flowers, than I wouldn't worry too much. If you're growing plants to eat, then I'd suggest using an organic potting soil blend. :) Great tip on the soil stabbing.