Container gardening
Here's a look at the steps for planting your container garden. For a short cut, keep reading.
Photo credit: The Baltimore Sun/Algerina Perna
Jeff Bredenberg, in his new book How to Cheat at Gardening and Yard Work, offers this tip for arranging plants in a large container:
"Getting several new flower plants situated in a large patio container can be quit a juggling act....Here's the cheating method: Sam Jeffries, one of the hosts of the radio show The Garden Guys, has a sneaky solution. First, fill you large container with potting soil up to the desired height (a few inches short of full, accounting for the depths of your flowers root balls.) Then take your flowers -- still in the little plastic containers you bought them in -- and p0osition them on top of the potting soil. Switch them around to your heart's content. Then fill in more potting soil around the little pots until the soil is at the correct height.
"With the potting soil heaped in place, lift each of the flowers out, remover their little plastic pots. Then plop the plant right back down in the same hole. There will be no more guesswork about that size holes to dig."
Comments
Love your blog, and it's many helpful hints like this one!
I'm working on a couple miniature conifer gardens in my backyard, and this technique will definitely help.
Send me some pictures when you're done and I'll post them!--Susan
Posted by: E$ | June 11, 2009 7:36 AM
I had to laugh at your column mention of "found objects" as containers. I have given this a try and quite frankly, my results always lack panache. Last month, at the Towson Garden Clubs' Plant Sale, there was something (I've had a month to forget what) planted in a sneaker. Oh, those Towson Garden Clubbers. Truly a panache-y bunch.
Posted by: Eve | June 11, 2009 11:15 AM
I don't have much panache either. But I am thinking about planting succulents in a cracked bird bath basin. My husband painted it, and I don't want to just throw it out. Won't need much watering and it sits in a nice spot. I will let you know how it turns out.
Posted by: Susan Reimer | June 11, 2009 11:19 AM
Susan, I have read that there is a product called "Soil Perfector" for situations such as your birdbath. You are supposed to mix one third regular potting soil with one third sand and one third Soil Perfector. This stuff is supposed to create air spaces to keep the plants from getting soggy. Please let us know if this works, because I have been contemplating recycling a birdbath with succulents as well.
I'll let you know!
Posted by: Dahlink | June 12, 2009 7:03 AM