One of the most effective ways to save money in your landscape is to engage
in the practice of container gardening. Container gardening is making use
of different containers to hold your plants. These work for flowers, herbs,
and even for vegetables. Container garden requires less maintenance than
more conventional flowerbeds and gardens because there is less amendment
to the soil and because there are fewer weed problems. Additionally, the
costs associated with preparing an area for planting can be avoided when
one uses carefully considered containers and planters for their landscaping.
One of the great things about container gardening is the wide variety
of items that can be used as containers. Many of the items can be found
around the house or even purchased from thrift stores. Old washtubs,
and even filing cabinets laid on their sides and removed of their drawers
(which can also be used as containers) make great containers. You can
even cut the tops off of milk cartons and use the bottom sections as
planters. These everyday items can be attractively decorated to look
nice.
In addition to converting things like coffee cans and old shoes into
fun and cute flower and herb holders, there are plenty of more traditional
planters and containers that can be incorporated into an attractive landscape
design. Clay pots and large urns make attractive holders, and the urns
can even be used to hold vegetables. Additionally, container gardening
is not limited to the ground. Hanging baskets bought at the store make
excellent additions to any landscape. Plus, they can be hanged from the
house, the porch, and even from tree branches and along fences. These
baskets create little bursts of color no matter where they are. Window
boxes are also attractive variations on container gardening and can add
a great deal to the look of a home.
Containers make great accents as well as being practical and money saving.
They can be just as beautiful to look at as the rest of the landscape
design elements. Indeed, container gardening is a great way to enjoy
the benefits of having a garden without as much backbreaking labor. Weeds
cannot work their way into the containers, and if you have the right
depth of container it is possible to have very healthy plants with strong
roots, making them resistant to disease and pests. Additionally, flowers
in containers are well protected from cutworms and from rodents who may
burrow into the root system. Containers are excellent sources of protection
for many plants.
In order to ensure that your container-based landscape is a success,
it is important that you make sure that your plants do not need an extensive
root system. Most flowers, even perennials, are fine in most containers.
Even many vegetables are fine in coffee tins and washtubs. Corn can easily
be planted in the filing cabinet lying down, and most drawers are plenty
deep for tomatoes. Lettuce is a vegetable with a fairly shallow root
system, and peppers have requirements that are very easy to meet with
containers. Make sure, before planting, that your container is adequate
for the needs of your plants. Herbs, of course, can thrive in just about
any size of container, and many of them can even be grown inside the
house (near a sunny window, of course).
Fill the containers with potting soil or garden soil. These soils are
rich in nutrients and can provide your plants with the food they need.
It is even possible to mix in a little organic compost for added nutrition.
You will need to water your plants occasionally, but because your plants
are enclosed in the container, there is no need to water them as often
as plants in the ground. This is because the container will help retain
moisture, and there is no drainage. Rather, you need to be careful not
to over water your container garden.
Making use of a container garden is a great way to save time and money
in your landscaping. It is also a creative way to display your plants
and even to grow your food. And, if you have a small amount of space,
container gardening can allow you to have a variety of plants that you
might not otherwise have room for.
