Kathy’s Gardening Guide: Container Gardens

“Never underestimate the healing power of a quiet moment in the garden.””

— Josephine Albert

Container gardening is growing plants in containers or planters instead of in the ground. Planters can be a wonderful way to bring flowers into areas not accessible through natural landscaping. Consider incorporating planters by an entrance, on patios, around pools and even within landscape beds. Container gardens can be created in traditional planters or more unique options such as old bird baths, wood crates, pallet garden boxes and more. For variety in your planters, use a mixture of annuals, perennials, herbs, evergreens and tropicals.

Remember the following tips as you create your container garden:

• A healthy planter must have drainage. Make sure there is a hole in the bottom of your planter, and add pebbles in the bottom to create easy drainage. Place a tray on the bottom to prevent leaks.

• Be sure to use good potting soil that includes fertilizer.

• Select a planter that is large enough to hold the plants you want to include.

• Determine the sun exposure in your location to best select appropriate plants.

• Choose plants that provide a variety of heights and colors.

• Arrange your plants in three layers: the tallest or largest plant in the center to the back of the pot, a burst of color filling around the middle, and cascading flowers or succulents to create an “overflow” around the edge of the planter.

Happy planting!

Flower of the Week: African Iris

Please email Kathy at kcg.pvr@gmail.com for any questions or gardening tips you would like to see in the future. For more information and ideas, visit Kathy’s Creative Gardens & Nursery, 196 N. Roscoe Blvd. The phone number is 904-655-7373.