It's called "container gardening." With the use of containers, you can grow plants on decks, patios, porches and balconies. You don't need a "back forty" to garden these days, thanks to the popularity of dwarf or miniature annual bedding plants and transplant vegetables.
Container gardening is so hot it's caught the Wall Street Journal's attention. The enwspaper reported ont he National Gardening Association's study that while overall retail sales of lawn and garden products rose 13 percent last year, good related to container gardening (plants, soil, etc) rose 40 percent to $738 million. The overall tone of the article was that container gardening is in vogue.
Far from limiting your options, container gardening expands them. They offer versatility in that you can display flowers almost instantly, precisely where you want it. By replacing plants, replanting from one pot to another or simply rearranging containers, you can refresh your garden in a minor way or give it a complete transformation.
Gardening on a small scale puts you in control. For one thing, watering is much simpler. You can control rather than waste water. Besides water, there's fertilizer and plant materials to think of. A small garden in containers definitely means less strain on your gardening budget. Consider, if you will, some of these suggestions as to how container plants can enhance your garden:
-- Break up the bare sweep of concrete patios, pool areas or decks and patios by creating small flowering clusters of potted plants.
-- Give added interest to an outdoor stairway by placing potted plants at the side of each step. Matching containers with identical flowers also makes for a dramatic effect. Try placing these on either side of an entrance or walkway.
-- Fill a large planter box within arm's reach of the kitchen door with herbs like parsley, chives, mint, tarragon or any other favorite.
-- Window boxes also brighten views from the inside. Plant window boxes and place them on narrow balconies or ledges where other plantings are unsuitable. My outdoor counter overlooking the kitchen window is always filled with herbs and flowers in containers.
-- Get the most out of new dwarf vegeatble varieties by planting them in containers. You can mix and match vegetables and herbs with flowers, too. Try edging a vegetable-filled half wine barrel with low-growing annuals like alyssum, lobelia or bacopa.
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