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Container Gardening A How-To Guide. Hennepin County Master Gardener Program. Images by Mary Meyer. W hat Is Container Gardening?. The practice of growing plants in containers instead of planting them in the ground. Goals. Know : How to use container gardens in the landscape
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Container GardeningA How-To Guide Hennepin County Master Gardener Program Images by Mary Meyer
What Is Container Gardening? The practice of growing plants in containers instead of planting them in the ground
Goals • Know: How to use container gardens in the landscape • Feel: More confident that you can start a container garden • Do: Start a container garden of your own
Why PracticeContainer Gardening? • Easy • Economical • Have a garden in any space • Liberation from your geography • Outfox the critters • Instant gratification • Can grow almost anything
What Do You Need for Container Gardening? • Container • Mix • Fertilizer • Water • Plants
Containers For Plants Can Be Anything… …as long as there is drainage Images by Mary Meyer
Container Options • Terra Cotta or Clay • Plastic & Fiberglass • Wood • Glazed Ceramic • Metal • Stone, Hypertufa Troughs
Terra Cotta or Clay • Classic choice • Heavy • Dries out quickly • Develops mold, salts etching Image by Mary Meyer
Plastic & Fiberglass • Lightweight • Holds moisture longer • No staining • Colorful, decorative and attractive Image by Mary Meyer
Wood • Informal, natural appearance • Good insulators • Needs replacing eventually Images by Mary Meyer
Glazed Ceramic • Beautiful • Non-porous • Can be too airtight for root growth • Colors may clash with plants flowers and foliage Image by Mary Meyer
Metal • Attractive • Little insulation: can be very hot or very cold Images by Mary Meyer
Stone or Hypertufa Trough • Moss grows on containers • Heavy • Expensive • Harder to find • Drainage may be a problem Images by Mary Meyer
What Else Do You Need for Container Gardening? • Container • Mix • Fertilizer • Water • Plants
Soil Mixes • Potting soil • May contain • Pasteurized soil • Sphagnum peat moss • Vermiculite • Perlite • Composted manure Image by Mary Meyer
Soilless Mixes • 2-3X lighter • May contain • peat moss and/or ground bark • vermiculite • perlite Image by Mary Meyer
Some Mixes Retain Moisture and Contain Fertilizer Image by Mary Meyer
What Else Do You Need for Container Gardening? • Container • Mix • Fertilizer • Water • Plants
Use Two Fertilizers • Follow product directions • Planting: mix in fertilizer granules • Watering: add dilute soluble fertilizers • Know N-P-K Image by Mary Meyer
What Else Do You Need for Container Gardening? • Container • Soil • Fertilizer • Water • Plants
Water Often • Daily in summer • Water soil, not plants, until water drains out • Small, hanging containers need extra care • Type of container makes a big difference Image by Mary Meyer
What’s the Last Thing You Need for Container Gardening? • Container • Soil • Fertilizer • Water • Plants
Four Factors • Guide Plant Choice • Location • Purpose • Color • Personal preference Image by Mary Meyer
Locate sun-loving plants in sun Purple or pink fountaingrass loves sun and warm or hot locations Images by Mary Meyer
Locate shade-loving plants in shade Begonia ‘Dragon Wings’ Fuchsia Images by Mary Meyer
Osteospermum ‘Orange Symphony’ likes cool weather; opens with sun Images by Mary Meyer
Purpose • Produce food • Add color • Hide / cover • Highlight • Frame • Attract attention
Food • Full sun • Lots of water • Fertilizer • 3 gallons mix: 1’ of plant Image by Karin Ciano
Color Hibiscus Nicotianasylvestris Images by Mary Meyer
Cover a bare wall Image by Mary Meyer
Highlight a patio Image by Mary Meyer
Highlight a flower border Image by Mary Meyer
Soften corners Image by Mary Meyer
Frame a bench Image by Mary Meyer
Frame a walkway . Image by Mary Meyer
Frame an entryway Image by Mary Meyer
Attract attention Image by Mary Meyer
Highlight a special collection Image by Mary Meyer
Create a landscape Image by Mary Meyer
Winter interest Images by Mary Meyer
Formal or informal informal formal Images by Mary Meyer
Choose eye-catching color schemes Image by Mary Meyer
White color theme Images by Mary Meyer
Great combinations Images by Mary Meyer
Great combinations Image by Mary Meyer
Great combinations Image by Mary Meyer
Great combinations Image by Mary Meyer
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