subject: Container Gardening Top 10 Ideas [print this page] Container gardening is a wonderful way to create beautiful displays on patios, decking or in borders.
Pots, planters and hanging baskets are great for displaying flowers but also as a way to grow fruit such as strawberries or herbs such as parsley or basil.
The fact they are self contained means they can be moved and create dense displays in areas where planting would not normally be possible.
This means enormous flexibility for the gardener through the massive range of plants available, the different seasons when plants can be grown and the containers themselves which come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
Here are 10 of ideas for using containers to give you some inspiration to create some stunning displays.
Terracotta pots and planters
Garden centres often have a wide range of pots and planters to choose from. Terracotta pots need to have good drainage to avoid water freezing at the bottom. Choose pots with drainage holes. Pot stands or caddys help help to combat this problem.
Hanging baskets
Hanging baskets are an extremely common and a low cost option for gardeners. Available in a range of materials including metal, willow and plastic hanging baskets are ideal for side planting and for long trailing plants. Hanging baskets are typically 10" to 18" in size with 14" being the most popular size. Hanging cones are a variation on this theme and have become much more popular in recent years.
Hay rack
A hay rack is a large wall basket which has a curved front and is a traditional approach for large houses, pubs or restaurants. The hay rack is based on the racks that were used to feed horses many years ago and have been converted for use with plants.
Trough
A trough is a long metal frame which can hold a lot of compost and flowering plants and is best placed along walls or beneath window frames. Troughs are normally used for top planting over and feature coco liners. Troughs are made up to 48" or 120cm long. Along with hayracks they are a popular choice for commercial premises.
Flower fountain
Two & Three tier flower fountains have different baskets on a freestanding frame and make impressive features in a courtyard, decking or on a patio. As they grow the flowers can cascade over the baskets creating a fountain effect which can be very attractive.
Watering can or bucket
Traditional metal watering cans or buckets are a novel and an ideal container for flowering plants. Ensure you punch some drainage holes in the bottom of the watering can and that the opening is wide enough to accommodate the plants.
Half barrel
These can be bought online or from garden centres and are either made specially for growing plants in or were perhaps part of an original whiskey barrel which has been cut down. The large size of the barrels can be limiting but these are a popular choice for displays outside hotels and pubs.
Garden trug
An wooden or painted wooden trug provides an appealing rustic look for planting. As with other containers you need to ensure good drainage in the bottom of the trug. Trugs can be bought at garden centres but the best appearance is likely to come from something second hand where the wood has been weathered.
Wicker basket
Wicker baskets have a natural appearance and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The gaps in the wicker material means they need to be lined in order to hold compost and retain water.
An old boot
A novel approach but something that creates a bit of a feature in the garden. Any boot or shoe can be used but will only be able to support a small number of flowers or plants. The boot or show can be placed in a border or amongst the pots to make it blend into the display.
For planting any container just follow the same approach as you would to plant any hanging basket or container - use compost, fertiliser and a liner if required.
In summary, there are many ways to use containers in the garden. The limit is simply your imagination. Containers are great for summer or winter gardening. They can hold fruit, herbs or flowers and be used in urban gardens or more rural locations. Containers can even be moved which means plants can be taken back into greenhouses for over wintering if they are at risk of frost. The mobility means they are also sometimes used as special events to create instant displays without the need to grow plants on in a permanent location.
