Container gardening is very popular, especially for gardeners with no yards or limited growing area in the ground. All types of plants may be grown in containers. Annual flowers, herbs and vegetables work very well because their growing will be over at the end of the summer season. Your containers can then be replanted the following season with a fresh planting.
Perennials, shrubs and trees may be grown in containers, but care must be taken to select the plants that will over-winter in the container and grow again the next season. Over-wintering plants in containers will require that they be watered periodically even through the winter.
Containers & Soil
Begin with a container of any size, round or square, tall or short. Be aware that small containers will need to be watered more frequently. Large containers need water less frequently. Fill your container with a top-quality potting soil for best plant growth. Soil is like everything else, you get what you pay for. Consider our ProMix Potting Soil or Nature’s Yield Outdoor Planters Mix for superior results.
Plant Varieties
Choose great plant varieties that are most suitable for growing in our Colorado growing climate. You can be assured at Creek Side Gardens, all annual and perennial flower varieties grown are most tolerant of the warm, dry growing conditions that our summers offer.
For vegetable container gardens, choose a variety best suited for a container which will not get too large making it difficult to take care of. Check with your Green Team staff for recommendations.
Choose sun or shade plants as appropriate for your container location. More than one-half day of shade will do best with shade annuals such as begonias, impatiens and coleus. Geraniums, petunias, calibrachoa and verbena will need more sunshine then less. Vegetables need as much sun as possible.
Thriller, Filler, Spiller
Use the Thriller/ Filler/ Spiller design concept for your flower container. The Thriller is the tall plant in the center or back of the pot. Classic examples would include Draceana spikes, Cordyline spikes, King Tut Grass or Cannas. Plant Fillers are going to occupy and fill in the center of the pot around the Thriller. Geraniums work great in our hot, dry Colorado climate. Also consider Strawflowers, Osteos/ Cape Daisies or Salvia. Then work in some petunias and calibrachoas that will mound andcascade in the pot Spillers are going to cascade and trail over the edge of the pot. Think about sweet potato vine, verbena and vinca vine, in addition to aspargus fern and English ivy.
Water & Fertilizer
Watering your container garden regularly is one of the most important things you can do. Especially during the summer months. Fertilizer applications made on a regular basis throughout the growing season will double your flower power and extend the life of your container garden until the very end of the season. Creek Side recommends Jacks Petunia Feed for annual flower containers or Jacks All Purpose for containers and your garden.
Container gardening is an excellent gardening option for all gardeners, no matter how small the space. Whether it’s used for flowers or vegetables, containers are an easy and convenient method for growing plants.