Container gardening

People have been gardening in containers since the development of the 'Hanging Gardens of Babylon' in 600 BC.

There is always a place in any garden for a pot, be it as an architectural addition or as a receptacle for a plant. Available in a vast range of materials, such as wood, stone, terracotta, metal, plastic or wire, if placed with thought they can punctuate the garden journey.

Containers can be moved when they are past their prime and they add colour and excitement to patios.

Cluster a group of containers to create a beautiful composition of shapes, sizes and colours. Attach baskets of cascading plants to pergolas, arbors and roof spaces to bring colour up high.

Designing with containers

Choose your containers with the same care a you would a sculpture or any other garden ornament. In addition to finding pots that complement your garden style, think about which plants to put in them. Showy plants such as palms, Dracaena and shrubs pruned to standard heights look ideal in traditionally designed planters such as classic urns or white planter boxes.

Barrels or half barrels are low-cost and natural containers in an informal setting. Fill an old wheelbarrow with potted plants, or give new life to a leaky metal watering-can by turning them into a planter. Use your imaginations and have fun. Whatever containers you use however, make sure they have drainage holes in the base.

Maintaining container plants

Plants growing in containers need special care. Small urns dry out quickly and need frequent watering. In dry climates or on windy days some containers should be watered at least once if not twice daily.

However, frequent watering filters out soil nutrients, so potted plants should be fertilized regularly. The soil in the container should be light and nutritious.

Soil collected from the garden is too heavy. But soil-less container mixes are often so light they dry out quickly.

As a compromise, combine two parts potting mixture with one part compost.

The compost will give more body to the mix, as well as provide important nutrients. The type and frequency of fertilising depends on what's growing in the container. You can fertilise your plants with half strength fish emulsion every time you water or with organic fertiliser pellets every four to six weeks.

The fundamentals

To keep down the weight of containers filled with soil, fill the lower half of the container with any light weight material that will not compact over time. Put the potting mixture in the remaining half and plant as usual.

To automatically water containers, bury one end of a long wick near the plant's roots and insert the other end in the bucket of water. This will gradually soak up the water and provide a slow and continuous source of water for the plant.

Cluster your pots together in a sheltered spot if you are away for several days. This way, the plants will need water less frequently, and will be easier to water if the containers are placed all in one place.

Pinch off dead blooms regularly to keep the plant bushy and full of flowers. To keep up with the heavy feeding most container plants need, add compost to the planting mix or add liquid sea weed or fish emulsion combination to the water to ensure well balanced growth.

If root bound, prune the roots by cutting back the outer edges of the root ball instead of transplanting them into a large container. Then repot it in the same container with fresh soil. To reduce moisture loss, top the soil in your containers with mulch.

Some interesting containers

Strawberry pots are wonderful containers for more than just strawberry plants. The advantage of hanging baskets is that plants can grow out of the sides and bottom as well as the top.

Custom made reflective metal vessels look ultra modern and slick. Terracotta is now taking on chic new shapes to meet modern trends and fashion.