55 Favorite Container Plants and Ideas for Your Potted Garden Oasis
Dress up your outdoor spaces with these container garden ideas.
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Want to grow plants outdoors, but don't have the space to dig into the dirt? Then you're ready to start a container garden!
Container gardening is an easy way to bring a fresh look to your front porch, patio, back yard or any outdoor space. You can add color and greenery to liven up drab spaces. And you can grow a range of cut flowers, herbs and vegetables for indoor use.
Container gardens are useful for getting around problems such as poor soil or insufficient sunlight, as well. There's no need to worry about soil amendments when you're using quality potting soil and plants that need more (or less) sunlight can be moved in their containers to follow (or avoid) the sun.
Your plant palette is also much less limited. "Many plants thrive in containers," says Barbara Wise, author of Container Gardening for All Seasons. "The most important thing is good drainage. Make sure there's a hole in the bottom of your pot so plants don't drown."
Don't forget to read the plant tag so you choose plants for the right conditions. Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day, while part sun is about half that. Shade means no direct sunlight or only a bit of morning sun.
Most importantly, make sure to keep your pots watered, especially in the heat of summer, because they dry out fast. Pots made from materials such as terra cotta tend to need to be watered more frequently than plastic because water evaporates more quickly from porous materials. You may need to water once or twice a day during the height of summer when your plants are mature and have filled out the pot.
Finally, because nutrients leach out of pots faster than in-ground plantings, feed your pots regularly with a water-soluble fertilizer or slow-release granular type. This ensures your flowers will keep blooming all summer long.
Ahead, our favorite container plant ideas for every season:
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
Barbara Wise has worked as a commercial landscaper and horticulturalist, and has written for multiple national publications. She is the author of “Container Gardening For All Seasons.”
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