3 Common Container Garden Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Creating a container garden is more than just beautiful design. In order for your container garden to thrive and look its absolute best you need to make sure the plants are happy and healthy. Here we’ll go over some of the most common mistakes and problems in container gardening and how to avoid them.

Combining Plants With Incompatible Needs

Think of your container plants like roommates: without compatible traits, they won’t enjoy living together in a small space. While plants are luckily far less complex than humans, it still requires some careful planning when choosing plants to go together in a container garden. It’s crucial to choose plants with similar needs when it comes to sunlight and water. We should not combine plants that need partial shade with those that need full sun, for example. Drought-resistant plants don’t pair well with moisture-craving tropicals.

To avoid this issue, try using a garden planner or “companion” plant guide. You can also base your decision off of a single plant and build a design around it. If your ideal focus flowers require full sun, then you’ll know to look for other plants who need the same. Research before you buy your plants to make sure everything will thrive in the same container conditions.

Watering Too Much

The number one reason house plants die is because of over-watering and container plants often have the same problem. Planting in a container compared with planting in the ground limits the plants’ access to natural water supply. This means the soil in a container will dry out more quickly. The container itself might also contribute to the moisture issues: terra cotta, for example, can absorb excess moisture and cause the soil to dry faster.

To avoid over-watering, try making a schedule. Rather than planning to water every single time, just make a note to check the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. If it feels damp, it might be better to wait. This will depend on the specific plants you choose, as well. Some plants are happy with more frequent watering than others, especially in the warmer summer months.

Forgetting to Fertilize

Regular fertilizing is crucial to the success and health of your container garden. Adding fertilizer will help your blooming plants produce more flowers and look their absolute best all season. Fertilizer can also benefit non-flowering plants by boosting new growth and helping to maintain color. Look for a liquid fertilizer with the important macronutrients plants need. A simple way to add fertilizer into your plant care routine is to dilute it with water and add it as part of your watering schedule. Keeping your container garden fed will keep it looking vibrant and healthy as long as possible.

These are some of the most common issues gardeners have with container gardens. However, all have simple solutions. The key to happy plants is knowing what they need—therefore, the more you can learn about your plants, the more healthy and vibrant they will be.

5 Heat-Tolerant Annuals That Flourish in Hot Summer Weather

 Photo by mschiffm via Pixabay

In most parts of the country, deep summer is when residential gardens are at their best. Well-watered lawns are lush and green, vegetable plots are thriving and annuals in flower beds, hanging baskets and containers. In the American South, however, the warmest part of the summer is also the most lackluster simply because many blooming annuals can’t stand the heat. Impatiens, fuchsia and snapdragons, for instance, will simply burn up and die if exposed to high temperatures for more than a day or so. Fortunately, there are annuals that thrive in summer heat that can help keep Southern gardens looking vibrant. Following are five of them:

Cosmos

Native to Mexico, cosmos are well-acclimated to hot weather. They come in white, all shades of pink and deep scarlet. They grow to about four feet tall, making them a great option for the back of the border in most situations. They grow very easily from seed and self-seed themselves once established in the garden.

Sunflowers

As their name implies, sunflowers are sun loving plants that perform well in hot climate conditions. They come in cream, all shades of yellow and deep mahogany. They’re one of the few plants that are tall enough to put behind cosmos in the back of the border. Like cosmos, they readily self-seed, but most bird species as well as their human counterparts love to snack on the seeds. Be sure to save some seeds in a cool, dry area to plant next year. 

Zinnias

Zinnias feature daisy-like blooms on long, sturdy stems, making them ideal for including in household bouquets. They come in all colors except for blue and are ideal for including in a mixed border. Although zinnias are very easy to grow from seed, and they’re F1 hybrids, the offspring from the seed they produce won’t be true to form, so you’ll have to buy new seed every year. 

Portulaca

Otherwise, known as moss rose, portulaca is a low-growing little plant with a delicate appearance that belies its toughness. It comes in all colors except for blue and is ideal for rock gardens, the front of the border and planters. Another F1 hybrid, portulaca won’t come true from its own seed.

Petunias

Petunias are suitable for almost any garden situation, but where they really shine is when they’re brimming over in a hanging basket. These aren’t easy to grow from seed, so most people purchase them in four-inch pots at their local nursery. They come in all colors but blue.

Plants that are acclimated to hot weather also tend to be drought-tolerant, which means you’ll probably save a little on utility costs. As another added bonus, the above annuals are all fairly resistant to pests and diseases.