Parks, Recreation & Leisure

Parks, Recreation & Leisure / Parks & Forestry

Landscaping Tips

Container Gardens
If you have limited space and time, but enjoy the color and beauty of annuals, why not bring your deck or patio to life and wow your guests with container gardens. A container garden can be in a pot, a planter, a watering can, barrel, whatever you choose and can be a true reflection of your taste in plants and colors. While each container is its own unique work of art, it also is easy to care for and can feature a new look each year.

Start with your choice of container, just make sure it's the right size for what you intend to plant, and that it has a drainage hole in the bottom. Next, purchase a light potting mix with approximately 90 percent sphagnum peat moss and less than 10 percent sand and perilite. A 40-quart bag of soil will supply four or more medium-sized terra cotta pots. A great drainage tip is to use shipping "peanuts" at the bottom of the container - keeping the planting light and reducing the amount of potting soil required. You can purchase shipping peanuts at your local mail supply store.

When shopping for plants, don't be as concerned about the mature size of plants as you normally would - you want the container to look full quickly and, remember that it's a clean slate next year. You can choose annuals, perennials, vines, shrubs, tropicals, trees, evergreens or any combination. If you're a cook try a mixture of herbs, even certain vegetables can work well in containers.

Consider the following tips as you plan your containers:
- Decide if the container will be located in sun or shade and choose plants accordingly.
- Mix plant type, color and height - use a combination of foliage, trailing plants, grasses or plants with textural interest.

Remember to water your containers thoroughly - in the summer months this is typically a daily event. Additionally, an occasional dose of liquid fertilizer mixed with water will help productivity.

If you choose to plant trees, shrubs or perennials, you can plant them in your regular garden once the container garden has outlived its usefulness. Such plants may also survive the winter in their containers if you move them to a protected area, cover them with pine boughs or place them in a non-heated garage. Water the containers from time to time so they don't completely dry out.

In a world where our green spaces are diminished by concrete and blacktop, container gardens can be a perfect fit.

Parks & Forestry Division
Parks & Recreation Department
City of Upper Arlington
3600 Tremont Road
Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Phone: 614-583-5340