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.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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