Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd.

Container Gardening – Your Summer Planters

Container gardening allows you to bring the beauty of plants closer to your living area than when growing in your flowerbeds. Also, planters may be placed on a balcony or patio for those without a garden.

The first consideration is the size of container: smaller is more portable for moving indoors when frost is forecast, but less volume dries out faster and so requires more watering. Large planters may be too big to move, but will dry slowly. There are many shapes, styles, materials and colours from which to choose, with a wide price range. Generally, double walled pots insulate plant roots from temperature fluctuation most effectively. Make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of the container! Or put 1" of gravel in the bottom of the container, mixed with a little charcoal.

Next, select your potting mix from the many peat-based products on the market. Those which contain some water-retaining gel and fertilizer are the best [avoid cheap mixes which are mainly straight peat] and some are specifically formulated for containers or hanging baskets, such as Moisture Mix Potting Soil and Smart Mix Hanging Basket Soil.

Your choice of plants is almost limitless! There are so many available, so decide first on your colour scheme and whether the container will be placed in the sun or shade. All the old favourites are there, but many with stunning new colours; check out the petunias, coleus, nicotiana and angelonia. Try cherry tomatoes or strawberry plants for tasty snacks for the kids! When buying your annuals check the tags or labels for information on care and suitability. Some perennials may be incorporated into your plans with annual flowers and foliage plants. In particular, grasses add height and grace to container plantings. Pots need to look 'full' so place plants close together in containers, not spaced as in borders.

Care of your planters is essential: tightly spaced plants need more water and fertilizer than their cousins in the garden, so check every day for water and fertilize weekly with half strength solution of a soluble fertilizer such as Plant Prod 20-20-20. Watch the weather forecast for cool temperatures in spring and fall so that tender annuals can be brought inside or protected to avoid frost damage; pansies are a welcome addition to spring planters as they will withstand a few degrees of frost after they have been hardened off in the spring. When your planters are in full bloom, take a photo so that you plan for next year's creations!

When fall arrives and frost kills the annual plants you can give your containers a second lease on life by making fall and winter displays! Dried flowers, branches from both evergreen and deciduous trees, pumpkins and Christmas decorations are a welcome sight in winter months, adding a personalized touch to your patio.

Container gardening is fun and creative, a spot in your yard where you can make big changes without spending big dollars. If you are really short of time and need to get a head start on the season, beautiful prepared planters may be purchased from most garden centers. Also, we do offer a custom planter service: you bring us your pots, or purchase some here, and we fill them with plants of your choice.

Caroline Fine
Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd.