How Do You Plan For A Long-Season Container Garden?
Container gardening is great for people who don’t have the space or time for a full-blown garden. Stairs and porches make perfect spots for these easy-to-manage gardens. The trick is to make the beauty last so you can long enjoy a striking display in a single container without having to replant. Begin by choosing plants carefully. Buy a container large enough to support several kinds of plants with at least one drainage hole. You’ll find many options in terracotta, plastic, ceramic and wood. Fill three-quarters with a commercially available, lightweight, porous planting mix. Choose an assortment of plants with similar needs for sunlight and water. Include a central upright-growing plant for a sense of permanence and structure–a dwarf Alberta spruce, for example, or, in mild climates, a Japanese aralia. Ring the central plant with smaller plants to create interesting texture, foliage and color combinations. Include plants with a long flowering season, such as a cockscomb (Celosia); tho
