Container and Patio Gardening

By

Lori Bowling

Boyd County Extension Agent for Horticulture

Outline

• Why container gardening

• Containers, types and requirements

• Potting media

• Plant selection for containers

• Examples

Why container gardening?

• Traditional gardening space is limited or unavailable

• Time for gardening is limited

• Mobility is limited – raised beds and containers, examples of accessible gardening

• Desire to be creative

Why container gardening?

• Garden site is unsuitable for growing the plants you want:– Drainage– Soil conditions– Shade/sun concerns

• Desire for fresh produce

Why container gardening?

• Functional reasons:– As highlights in the landscape– To soften walls and hard scapes– To define space/rooms (walls, ceilings,

framing)– To limit access and provide security

Container gardening concerns

• Maintenance requirement– Watering, two-fold concern– Fertilizing– Grooming

• Decisions regarding containers, growing media, plants and placement will help reduce these concerns

Containers - types

• Can plant in almost any container • Plastics and fiberglass – most popular,

weight, durable, variety• Clay/ceramics – traditional, porous, heavy• Wood – popular, redwood and cedar best• Metal – durable, character, limited

availability, weight

Containers – requirements

• How big?– Size of space– Size of plants– Balance between

container and plants

Containers - requirements

• Drainage– Each container must have at least one

drainage hole– Elevate container slightly to ensure proper

drainage– A few pebbles and charcoal in the bottom of a

pot does not ameliorate poor drainage, drill a hole!

Containers - requirements

• Temperature concerns– Avoid use of black and dark colored

containers in sunny locations, root damage may occur with high soil temperatures

– Protect root zone from cold temperatures of winter, most plant roots are less hardy compared to above ground portion

Potting media

• Requirements:– Must wet easily– Must resist compaction– Must hold water without water-logging– Must retain some nutrients

• These are met by having proper structure

Potting media

• Structure of soil describes the aggregation of soil particles resulting in pore space

• Good structure comes from blending ingredients– Organic components: peat, bark, composted

material– Drainage provided by sand or perlite– Water and nutrients held by vermiculite, calcined

clay, peat, hydrogels

Potting media vs. soil

• If soil is used exclusively as a container medium it will compact: pore space, aeration, and drainage will deteriorate.

• Soil can be used as an amendment in soilless potting mixes. A little soil will enhance water and nutrient holding capacity and improve anchorage of plants.

Potting media – long term use

• Structure of potting media tends to break down over time

• Soil borne diseases tend to build up over time

• Best to replace potting medium each growing season

• Perennials growing in containers must be repotted periodically, replace media

Plant selection

• Plants must be compatible, complementary:– Sun vs. shade– Moisture needs– Foliage textures and

colors– Flower colors, bloom

period

Vegetables

• Popular and practical

• Extend the season with cool season crops

• Use containers as a form of crop rotation to lessen pest pressure

Annuals

• Perhaps the most suitable plants for containers

• Consider needs for maintenance, water requirements, grooming, bloom period

Perennials and trees

• More difficult, require a strategy for over-wintering

• Must divide or repot occasionally to maintain or control vigor

Aquatic plants

Plants in Containers

Questions?