Gardening in containers gives you flexibility and control over your garden. Manageable in any space from a stoop to a rooftop, container gardening allows you to easily move and access your plants. Containers also make it easier to optimize surrounding conditions, as well as experiment with your plants.
Best Container Gardening Tips: Choosing Containers
It’s important to choose the correct container for your location, space, and plants. Keep in mind that the only space your plant has to grow is within the container you plant it in.
- Good container material: clay, baskets, rot-resistant wood, light-weight metal, and good-quality plastic
- In hot climates, use light-colored containers to decrease heat absorption and growth of uneven roots
- In cold climates, avoid using breakable containers like glass or clay
- Use 6”-8” deep containers to allow for proper root growth; base how large the overall container is on the plant you plan to put in it
- Make sure your containers are well-drained by cutting ½” holes in the bottom and adding gravel to help with drainage
Best Container Gardening Tips: Best Plants for Containers
Luckily, there are many plants that will grow well in containers. Here are some of the plants best-suited for container gardening.
Best Annuals & Perennials
Here are some annuals ideal for containers:
- Petunias
- Begonias
- Impatiens
- Marigolds
- Periwinkle
- Zinnias
- Geraniums
- Pansies
Choose perennials with attractive all-season foliage:
- Daylilies
- Peonies
- Phlox
- Coral-bells
- Astilbe
- Oriental poppies
- Primroses
Best Vegetables & Herbs
Start with 4” plants in order to make sure you vegetables don’t outgrow their containers.
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Spring onions
- Eggplant
Herbs for fragrance or eating:
- Rosemary
- Majoram
- Parsley
- Sage
- Fennel
- Mint
- Chives
Best Trees & Shrubs
Smaller trees are ideal for container gardening and will add structural beauty to your garden.
- Japanese maples
- Crab-apples
- Dogwoods
- Oriental cherry
- Golden-Chain tree
Shrubs are smaller and easily added to a garden to provide background and shade.
- Azaleas
- Hollies
- Japanese Yews
- Roses
- Viburnums
- Hydrangeas
Best Container Gardening Tips: Soil Maintenance
Choose a potting medium that is well-drained but will retain moisture and keep the roots of your plants evenly moist. Compost is ideal potting soil, but you can also buy a good quality potting mixture or a soilless mix from a store to use in your containers.
- Water your container garden daily, and carefully watch moisture levels during dry weather
- Use a dilute liquid fertilizer as recommended per plant
- Fertilize lighter potting mixes more often than heavier mixes
- Liquid fish emulsion or liquid seaweed can be used as a “booster”
Best Container Gardening Tips: General Care
To grow properly, your container garden needs to receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day, though more is always beneficial. Here are more tips on general care:
- When the blooms of flowering perennials, annuals, trees, and shrubs fade, cut them off to prevent seed formation
- To extend the flowering season, pinch your annuals and perennials once or twice in late spring or summer
- Inspect your plants periodically for insects and disease
- Protect your plants from high light reflection during the hottest part of the day
- Shelter plants from severe rain, hail, windstorms, or early frosts
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