Container Gardening - Part 2 : Getting Ready

A few things to check before the planting begins:

1.     Size of container- The size of your container should be in proportion to the area in which you place it. A large planter may be too big for your landing, or a small one may be lost amongst the other plants in the garden. A window box should almost extend the length of the ledge it is either on, or under. The plants should also be in proportion to the size of the container.

2.     Before you begin filling your hanging container with soil and plants, ensure that the place for which you have planned, can hold the weight of a watered planter. They will become heavy! You may also want to consider how accessible it is for you to water, and what may be affected by any overflow (eg. a step that may become slippery).

3.     You may want to position your other containers in their permanent locations before you fill them, as they may become too heavy to move.

4.     Make sure your containers have good drainage. (Place some plastic window screen over the holes to keep out insects and slugs.)

5.     Use lightly moistened, lightweight potting soil or a soilless mixture, and fill your planter to within a few centimeters from the top.

6.     Water your plants a few hours prior to planting, as a damp rootball stays together better.

Annuals do well in containers because of their smaller and more condensed root system. When choosing plants for your containers, select varieties that like the same growing conditions, such as sun or shade. Also try to select colors that compliment each other such as blue with yellow or orange; red with green, clear blue or white; purples with yellows and whites.

A few  plant choices for shady spots are: begonias, fuchias, lobelia, pansies, spider plants, impatiens, coleus, nemesia. For sunny spots: portulaca, petunias, dracaena, celosia, marigold, statice, verbena, creeping jenny, heliotrope. For windy spots: ivies, scaevola, fibrous begonia, portulaca, petunia ('Maddness' variety).