Using Garden Pots To Start A Container Garden

Its simple to start a successful container garden from scratch by just following a few guidelines. For the gardeners that already have them, one of their reasons is the flexibility you have with containers. Not only are they interesting, but they can also be very beautiful and for urban environments, your only option may be to place all your plants in garden pots.

Choosing Your Containers

Having a variety of pot sizes is key to a successful container garden. Starting with a few larger sized pots (three or four) and increasing the quantity as you go to medium and small garden pots. By picking out a bright color for one of your large pots, you will definitely draw attention to that particular area - which is OK if that is your intention.

Placement Of Your Pots

If you have the room, start with larger pots about two to three feet tall. These will be focal points that will draw your eye in. Try to place these pots in areas that are already seen as existing focal points, like a corner, next to an important piece of furniture, or near a permanent pole. You can also pick areas as focal points to draw the viewer\'s attention away from sore spots such as electrical boxes, air conditioners, etc.

Once you have placed all the large pots where you like them (they aren\'t permanent so you can move them at any time), take your medium sized pots and place a few around the larger ones. Since they will be pretty close to each other, try and imagine how it will look when there are trailing plants coming down from the larger pots. In most cases, two to three medium sized pots will be enough.

Fill in the remaining areas with the smaller pots. This should be done randomly as there are no set rules to this. Place them where they look good to you!

Pot Preparation

Terracotta pots should be sealed on the inside with a good water sealant and all the pots should have drainage holes in their bottoms. If they don\'t, you will have to drill them (especially if they are made of wood). Cover the holes with either a piece of screen, shards from broken pots or, a couple of layers of newspaper. This will keep the dirt from falling out the bottom. If the pots will be on a wood deck or patio, you will want to place them on bowls to catch any water from coming out the bottom.

Plant Selection

Its best to have up to three types of plants in the larger pots - a trailing plant that falls down the sides of the pot and covers up the top rim, a cover plant that fills in the middle and an upright plant that stands out tall from the rest. Experiment with different types and colors but stick to plants that require the same amount of watering. Have fun and use your imagination!

Chuck Wherty has been working in gardens since his early childhood and has always been interested in educating others regarding garden pot and landscaping techniques. If you like to know more about garden pots, visit AllGardenPots.com

Tags: container gardening, diy, garden accessories, garden pot, garden pots, garden projects, garden tools, Gardening Articles, gardens, hobbies, plant selection, pots, preparation

How To Turn A Lawn Into A Vegetable Garden

You may have heard about the new White House vegetable garden, or maybe you have already thought about organic vegetable gardening for a while. In any case, if you too want to get rid of some or all of your labor-intensive, environmentally unfriendly lawn, here's how to do it.

Many people who would like to turn to organic vegetable gardening are put off by the idea that it must be a difficult and time-consuming endeavour, and that a lot of tilling and other back-breaking work is involved. In fact, if you follow some basic permaculture precepts and let nature do its work, it will be very easy work. Unless your lawn is contaminated by a lot of pesticides, you won't even have to remove the grass.

First, delimit the lawn area for your organic vegetable garden with some thread, or with chalk. You can make it as big as the White House veggie garden patch, thirty by thirty feet, or smaller. Water this area generously, making sure that the ground is thoroughly soaked.

Cover the area with a six inch thick mix of sand or gravel, old grass clippings, soil, and some ready-made organic compost or manure. This will ensure a solid nutrient base for your organic vegetables to grow on in years to come. Cover everything with cardboard, or with several layers of newspaper. This cover will eventually become compost too.

Now build a raised bed frame around the whole area for your organic vegetable garden, providing for walk paths if the area is big. It's best to use solid, untreated wood planks. You can add dividing frames if you like. The previous paper layer needs to stick out from the sides of the main frame.

Now fill the frame or frames with organic compost and topsoil. In the beginning you will have to buy the compost, but after your organic vegetable garden has gotten underway you will be able to make your own. Add some porous pebbles or vermiculite to the mix for aeration.

You should now leave everything as it is for at least a couple of weeks, ideally for a month. In this time, your old lawn and the organic materials on top will decompose, with the help of earthworms that will return to the previously sterile earth, and everything will turn into a fertile mixture for your seeds.

Now you can start your kitchen garden, either using seedlings from other plants or from a nursery, or by growing vegetables from seed. In the latter case, it is best to use certified organic seeds. There are several online retailers that sell them if you can't find them in your area.

To make sure that you'll enjoy the produce don't just pick the most typical plants for an organic vegetable garden, go for the ones that you like and that often turn up in your kitchen, and don't be afraid to leave any popular plants out. But make sure that you plant according to season.

If you have kids, make sure to involve them in the new garden from the start. They will love it and it will also be a great educational experience for the. Besides, you are going to spend more time with them and get help tending your organic vegetable garden.

While you're at it, you should start a compost heap. You can use a plastic composter, which are often available for free from local government, or build a couple of wooden frames to start two compost heaps. This will allow you to supply your organic vegetable garden with fresh soil and nutrients by recycling kitchen waste and lawn clippings.

OrganicHerbalGardening.com is the premier resource for organic gardening on the Net, with updates on topics such as seasonal gardening, as well as on indoor herb gardens, organic cooking, organic fertilizers - click the links above to find out more!

Tags: cooking, food garden, Garden, garden tools, gardening advice, Gardening Articles, gardening equipments, gardening techniques, gardening tips, herbal garden, leisure, organic cooking, organic garden, Organic herbal garden, vegetable garden

Top 10 Tips for Using Garden Pots As A Container Garden

Container gardens have been around for quite some time and are gaining in popularity. In many instances, such as high-rise or apartment living, the only option for a garden is to place your plants in garden pots. Here is a short list of considerations on using garden pots in your own garden:

1. Choose the Proper Material

Garden pots are made from a large variety of materials, like clay, plastic and stone. Some of these materials are more durable than others and some more stylish. How you will use the pots will help you narrow down the options.

2. Size Matters

The kind of plant you will be planting (and the number of plants) will help determine how big the pots you will need to have. Obviously, small trees will require a larger pot than, say, a tulip.

3. Add Variety to the Sizes of Pots

If you want your garden to "pop", then vary the sizes of the pots (and plants) you use. Scale your pots so the farther back they are, the larger they get.

4. Place Your Pots in Groups

By grouping small and mid-sized pots near and around a larger pot, you will add a lot of interest and a focal point in your garden.

5. Group Plants Requiring Similar Watering In Each Pot

This may seem obvious, but you shouldn't group a cactus requiring little water with a fern requiring daily watering.

6. Place Plants That Require The Same Amount of Sunlight In Each Pot

Pots left in direct sunlight dry up very quickly because of their small size. Try to place them where they get some shade at least part of the day.

7. Pick Hardy Plants That Don't Need Much Water

Pots do dry up fast, especially if they are small. Choose plants requiring less water to make it easier to maintain your container garden. You won't be sorry you did.

8. Proper Drainage Is Essential

Most pots come with drain holes in them. If they don't you will have to drill them yourself. Over the hole, place either a couple of layers of newspaper or a piece of broken pot to allow for drainage but keeping the soil from spilling out the bottom.

9. Waterproof Terracotta Pots

Terracotta makes a great material for pots, but they tend to soak up quite a bit of the water intended for your plants. Brush on a water sealant to the inside of the pot to keep this from occurring.

10. Use Potting Soil

For pots, its best to use a good potting soil as they are specially blended for this purpose. Potting soils are lighter in weight than normal soil and they hold water much better.

Tags: container gardening, diy, garden accessories, garden pot, garden pots, garden tools, Gardening Articles, gardens, hobbies, plant selection, pots, preparation

Top Ten List – Container Gardening With Garden Pots

Container gardens have been around for quite some time and are gaining in popularity. In many instances, such as high-rise or apartment living, the only option for a garden is to place your plants in garden pots. Here is a short list of considerations on using garden pots in your own garden:

1. Choosing the Proper Material for Your Garden Pots

Garden pots are made from a large variety of materials, like clay, plastic and stone. Some of these materials are more durable than others and some more stylish. How you will use the pots will help you narrow down the options.

2. Size Matters

If you know what plants you will be using in your garden, the kind of plant will help determine how big the garden pot will be. For instance, small trees require much larger pots to allow for their root systems.

3. Vary the Pot Sizes

If you want your garden to "pop", then vary the sizes of the pots (and plants) you use. Scale your pots so the farther back they are, the larger they get.

4. Place Your Pots in Groups

Add interest or a focal point to your garden by grouping smaller and mid-sized pots around a large pot.

5. Select Plants That You Put In A Pot That Require The Same Amount of Water

Obviously, you shouldn't put a water-loving plant (like a fern) in with a group of cactus. Watering requirements should be the same for all the plants in a single pot.

6. Place Plants That Require The Same Amount of Sunlight In Each Pot

Pots left in direct sunlight dry up very quickly because of their small size. Try to place them where they get some shade at least part of the day.

7. Choose Plants That Require Less Water

Since pots are relatively small, they tend to dry up pretty fast. Choosing plants that require less water will make your container garden easier to maintain and will also be more forgiving.

8. Proper Drainage Is Essential

Most pots come with drain holes in them. If they don't you will have to drill them yourself. Over the hole, place either a couple of layers of newspaper or a piece of broken pot to allow for drainage but keeping the soil from spilling out the bottom.

9. Waterproof Terracotta Pots

Terracotta makes a great material for pots, but they tend to soak up quite a bit of the water intended for your plants. Brush on a water sealant to the inside of the pot to keep this from occurring.

10. Use Potting Soil

Its always best to use a good potting soil in your pots. They are specially blended just for this purpose so they are light weight and they have better water holding capabilities.

Tags: container gardening, diy, garden accessories, garden pot, garden pots, garden tools, Gardening Articles, gardens, hobbies, plant selection, pots, preparation

Caring For Your Container Garden And Garden Pots

With some basic gardening skills, you can ensure a successful container garden. Starting with the containers themselves, make sure that any garden pots made from porous materials (such as terracotta or wood) are sealed on the inside with a quality water sealant. Otherwise, the pots will soak up much of the water meant for your plants.

Watering Your Plants

It is just as important not to over water as it is not to underwater. Most garden pots will have a saucer or bowl underneath to catch any extra water and keep it from rotting your patio or deck. The best way to water your container garden is by filling the saucers up with water. This helps you avoid over watering and the water from spilling over the top of the saucer. The water will seep up through the hole in the bottom of the pot feeding the roots of your plants.

You can also choose to water your plants on the top surface. If so, make sure to fill it a little at a time (about a cup or so) and keep an eye on how much water ends up in the saucer. Its best not to overfill the saucer. Your plants will always welcome a fresh spray of water from a hand sprayer. If you have really hard water from your sink, use bottled or rain water so calcium won't build up on the leaves.

Plant Food

Since pots are generally small, the nutrients in most potting soils don't last much more than five or six weeks. Therefore, you will need to replenish the soil with vital nutrients. Plant food generally comes in liquid or granular forms. Slow-release granules are recommended as they last a long time and keep a steady supply of food going to the plants.

Pest Control

The two main types of insecticides are Systemic and Contact. Systemic works by pouring the insecticide onto the soil. It is then absorbed through the root system then up through the plant. This works best for pests under the soil and for leaf eating bugs as they ingest the poison.

The next type of insecticide is the contact type which is sprayed directly onto the insects. It should work rather quickly but you might have to repeat the application after a few days depending on the amount of infestation is going on.

You are sure to have a thriving container garden with a small amount of monitoring and loving care.

David Haines has been working in gardens since his early childhood and has always been interested in educating others regarding gardening and landscaping techniques. If you'd like to know more about container gardening, visit AllGardenPots.com

Tags: container gardening, diy, garden accessories, garden pot, garden pots, garden tools, Gardening Articles, gardens, hobbies, plant selection, pots, preparation

Caring For Your Container Garden And Garden Pots

Ensure a successful container garden with some basic gardening skills. If you start with the containers, make sure any garden pots made from porous materials (such as wood or terracotta) are sealed with a quality water sealant on the inside of the pot. Otherwise, a lot of the water meant for your plants will be soaked up by the pots.

Proper Watering

Not over watering is just as important as it is not to underwater. Placing a bowl or saucer underneath your garden pots will catch any extra water and keep the water from rotting and staining your deck or patio. Filling the saucers up with water is the best way to water your container garden. By doing it this way, you avoid over watering and you keep the water from spilling over the top rim of the saucer. The water actually feeds the roots of your plants by seeping up through the garden pot's hole in the bottom.

Another method of watering is to water your plants at the surface. If you do, however, make sure you fill about a cup at a time and watch how much water ends up in the saucer. You want to avoid overfilling the saucer. Spraying your plants with water from a hand sprayer is always welcome by your houseplants. Try to avoid using hard water though so calcium won't build up on the leaves.

Nourishment For Your Plants

The nutrients in most potting soils don't last much more than five or six weeks since garden pots are generally small. So, vital nutrients will need to be replenished. Plant food, for the most part, comes in granular and liquid forms. Since they last a long time and keep a steady supply of food going to the plants, slow-release granules are recommended.

Pest Control

The two main types of insecticides are Systemic and Contact. Systemic works by pouring the insecticide onto the soil. It is then absorbed through the root system then up through the plant. This works best for pests under the soil and for leaf eating bugs as they ingest the poison.

Contact insecticide works by spraying the poison directly onto the bugs. This method works rather quickly and you may need to repeat depending on how much infestation is going on.

With loving care (and sufficient monitoring), you are sure to have satisfying results with a thriving container garden.

David Haines has been working in gardens since his early childhood and has always been interested in educating others on garden pot and landscaping techniques. If you'd like to know more about garden pots, visit AllGardenPots.com

Tags: container gardening, diy, garden accessories, garden pot, garden pots, garden tools, Gardening Articles, gardens, hobbies, plant selection, pots, preparation

Using Garden Pots To Start A Container Garden

By following a few guidelines, you can easily start a successful container garden from scratch. One of the reasons that gardeners prefer them is for the flexibility that containers have. They aren't just beautiful, they are interesting as well and, in the case of urban environments, your only option may be to plant everything in garden pots.

Choosing Your Containers

Its important to have a variety of sizes for your pots. Start with the larger pots and move down to the smaller ones. Three or four large pots should work fine. Add a few more medium sized pots and then even more of the smaller pots. Draw attention to a particular area by picking out a bright colored large pot.

Location, Location, Location

Start with larger pots that are about two to three feet tall, if you have the room. These will act as focal point that actually draw your eye in. You can also try placing the large pots in existing focal point areas such as, next to a permanent pole, by a piece of important furniture, or in a corner. If you want to achieve the opposite effect, place the pots AWAY from sore spot areas, like an air conditioner, electrical box, etc.

Place a few of the medium sized pots next to the larger ones now that you have the larger pots where you want them. When you are placing the medium sized pots, try to imaging how the trailing plants from the larger pots will look. This may help you in determining where they will go. Two to three carefully placed medium pots should be sufficient.

Now you can fill in the remaining areas with small pots. Since there are no set rules to this, place them randomly where they look good to you!

Preparing The Pots

Seal the insides of any terracotta pots with a good water sealant. Make sure all of your pots have a hole in the bottom for water drainage. If not, you will have to drill them with half inch holes (especially wood containers). To keep all the dirt from falling out the bottom, you'll need to cover the inside of the hole with a couple layers of newspaper, a small piece of screen or, shards from a broken pot. Place a bowl under each pot if they are sitting on a wood deck or patio.

Picking Out Your Plants

Its best to have up to three types of plants in the larger pots - a trailing plant that falls down the sides of the pot and covers up the top rim, a cover plant that fills in the middle and an upright plant that stands out tall from the rest. Experiment with different types and colors but stick to plants that require the same amount of watering. Have fun and use your imagination!

Chuck Wherty has been working in gardens since his early childhood and has always been interested in educating others regarding garden pot and landscaping techniques. If you like to know more about garden pots, visit AllGardenPots.com

Tags: container gardening, diy, garden accessories, garden pot, garden pots, garden projects, garden tools, Gardening Articles, gardens, hobbies, plant selection, pots, preparation

Interesting Alternatives to Ordinary Garden Pots

Garden pots are a great and versatile way to bring new life your existing garden. But, there are a lot objects you can use in place of your standard garden pot. For instance, you could use an old watering can to place plants in. Simply drill or cut a hole in the bottom for drainage and you've got yourself an instant charming plant container.

If you have a large stump close to, or in, your garden, you can hollow it out to put a pot into. Use a wide boring drill bit and drill out several holes that make up the outside diameter of the circle. Once you have most of the material drilled out for the circle, continue boring out the material on the inside. Using a chisel, remove all the remaining wood that is left between the holes. Put in the pot and fill in any gaps around it with dirt.

If you break a large garden pot, don't throw it away. Simply cut off the bottom half at an angle and place it on the ground in your desired location or just bury it halfway into the ground. This will give the illusion that it is more like an artifact that's been unearthed.

For a less permanent but really fun idea, you can take a pair of old boots and fill them with dirt and top with a plant of your choice. You can even paint the boots with spray paint to make them blend in or stand out.

A wood barrel that is cut in half is a common alternative as well. Although they're made to hold liquids, it's still a good idea to coat them on the inside with water sealant since they weren't exactly made to hold dirt.

A simple idea is to take a used car tire, lay it down level and fill that with dirt. They can even be stacked to make a very interesting garden.

Look around and you will see that there are plenty of objects you can use as containers for your garden. Your only limit is your imagination.

Daniel Rapier has been working in gardens since his early childhood and has always been interested in educating others on garden pot and landscaping techniques. If you'd like to know more about garden pots, visit AllGardenPots.com

Tags: container gardening, diy, Fountains, garden accessories, garden fountains, garden pot, garden pots, garden projects, garden tools, Gardening Articles, gardens, hobbies, pots

Herbal And Organic Gardening: Useful Tips For Beginners

It can seem daunting to begin with an organic vegetable or herbal garden for the first time, but there are few better ways to be good to the planet while also being good to yourself and enjoying yourself.

Organically grown vegetables and herbs are safer, healthier and also taste better than those grown with the help of chemical products, plus you can save get for free what would cost you at the grocer's.

When starting with organic vegetable and herbal gardening, you should prepare a composting box as soon as you can. Good compost is by far the best fertilizer for your garden and also acts as natural pest control. Contrarily to popular belief, your compost heap will neither smell nor look unseemly.

Your home-made compost will also fulfill a secondary purpose: it will help your organic garden to retain moisture, and as a result you will need to water your edible plants less often. Put all your kitchen waste and also any garden cuttings you may have onto the compost heap, but avoid great quantity of fish and meat remains.

You'll also need to source organic seeds or sprouts for your organic vegetable and herbal gardening project. In most cases, commercial seeds are not organic so you will have to make doubly sure to get the right starters.

There probably are specialized shops that sell organic seeds for gardening in your area, but you can also buy them through an online shop and have them mailed to you. Online is probably better for most users, as you get the convenience of choosing from home from a bigger catalogue, and as for all mailed products you can return organic gardening supplies if they are not up to your expectation.

Once you have the organic seeds, don't plant them outdoors right away but let them sprout inside the house, using organic soil in small pots. There isn't much that can go wrong at this stage, but avoid giving your seedlings them too much water or they will drown.

Once your little plants have grown two leaves, you should repot them into biodegradable pots and later bury these in your garden. You can of course also go for an indoor window garden for your herbs. These make additions to windowsills and beautify the house.

Vigorous, organic soil is fundamental for organic vegetable and herbal gardening. Like compost, good organic soil will not only grow healthier plants that taste better, but will also act as a natural pest controller. If you've had a non-organic garden before, it may take some time to clean the chemical laden soil, or you can dig it all out and start anew with organic soil.

Fill your windowsill pots with organic soil, or put a layer of at least six centimeters in your outdoors organic garden as topsoil. Ass compost and you will be on the right track to grow delicious and healthy organic herbs and vegetables.

Tags: cooking, food garden, Garden, garden tools, gardening advice, Gardening Articles, gardening equipments, gardening techniques, gardening tips, herbal garden, leisure, organic cooking, organic garden, Organic herbal garden, vegetable garden

Have You Considered Gardening Shoes?

Many homeowners have a garden- even if it is a small one. When gardening, we're concerned with doing what we must to keep it looking good. Have you ever gone out and found yourself knee deep in dirt and mud, and regretted not wearing some type of gardening shoe on your feet?

If you wore your regular shoes for your gardening tasks, you likely got your shoes filthy, possibly ruined. Have you asked yourself- what can you wear on your feet in the garden? Time to check out the gardening shoes! They are typically far from attractive, but they have they will definitely protect your legs and feet from the dirt.

You'll have to consider what type of shoes you need. This depends on what type of work you'll be doing and the condition of the garden you're working in. There are two main types of footwear you can purchase. Your first choice is to purchase gardening shoes.

Gardening shoes are very easy to put on and remove. They are typically made from rubber, or some other waterproof material, as there are usually wet patches in your garden even on dry days. Waterproof shoes ensure that not only will your feet stay, but that your shoes will rinse clean easily.

Make sure your new shoes are made of very sturdy material. You will want them to withstand the mud that you trudge through. Shoes that are sturdy will also help prevent injury to your feet from such things as branches, thorns, and even the unexpected gardening tool.

The other type of gardening shoe that you can buy is that of boots. While you definitely will have to struggle a little to put the boots on, and to take them off, the benefits of gardening boots goes a long way.

Like the gardening shoes, boots should be made of a durable material that can withstand sharp objects. You should also aim to buy waterproof boots so you also have that protection.

If you choose a boot that extends beyond your ankles, you also have the advantage of having your legs protected. If step into deep muck, you will be protected farther up your leg.

Depending upon your gardening needs and what type of work you do in the garden, gardening shoes or gardening boots can protect your feet while you weed and clean your garden. Any menaces of nature will not stand a chance against your new garden wear, so go out and get a pair of gardening shoes today!

Tags: garden tools, Gardening, gardening accessories, Gardening Articles, gardening shoes, hobbies