At the end of every rainbow, there’s a pot of gold and by that we mean a pot full of fragrant flowers and foliage. Container gardens are easy to maintain. They’re practically in the palm or your hand and, oftentimes, moveable so who doesn’t want to garden in pretty pots? Whether they’re for show on your front porch or for the veggies that you’re hoping to start early in the back, take a look at these five easy tricks of the trade to be sure you say no to pot rot and yes to a pot of gold.
Make your containers moveable whenever possible. As we experienced last weekend, just when we think Spring has sprung, Winter creeps back up with his frosty fingers. Unless your pot is entirely made of evergreen foliage, you’ll want to be sure your containers are portable whether that means they have a roller underneath or they’re light enough to carry is up to you. After planting early for Spring, be sure to bring your planters into a warmer place like the garage as soon as the weather man or woman mentions a late freeze.
Pot rot isn’t just a term we made up because it rhymes. It’s a real thing, unfortunately. Oftentimes, we purchase pots simply for their ascetic but it’s important to select a pot that functions as well as it looks. When purchasing your container, be sure to choose one with the ability to drain. Usually, this means it has at least one hole at the bottom. Overwatering (especially in pots with no drainage holes) is the easiest way to say bye-bye to your beautiful container gardens.
Plant with a potting mix and sprinkle Biotone in each hole before you place your plant in the soil by the roots. For blooming annuals, fertilize every two weeks with a high dosage of phosphorus (the middle number on the bag) to promote blooms or for more leafy foliage, use a fertilizer high in nitrogen to keep it green like a 10-10-10.
Never place your plants in holes deeper than they are in the pot you buy them in.
Before placing your new plants in the container, always tease the roots so they don't continue to entangle themselves in a circular direction.
Want to get started on your own container garden but need a little additional assistance? Be sure to register for our Container Garden Workshop at 10:30AM, Saturday, March 25. Click the button below for details.