Many people are under the impression that potted plants are all that they can grow on their patio or deck. But there other deck and patio ideas available for growing your outdoor plants. Container gardens come in all shapes and sizes: hanging baskets, boxes, large pots, barrels, you name it.
Here’s a list of tips for gardening and also information on how you can conserve water too.
The exact size of your container will depend, on what you want to plant and how big the plant will grow. This of course will also depend on the size of your deck or patio. However, keep in mind that while a container garden is small by default, the more space they have, the more the plants will thrive.
Container Material
When choosing a container you should consider the following materials:
- Clay pots make it difficult for the soil to retain water, as it will simply seep out of the clay. But if you plan on using clay just remember that you will need to water more often.
- Wood containers are easy to customize and are also quite good-looking. However, they also rot over time and if they’ve been treated with chemicals (to preserve the wood), then this can and will damage your plants and flowers. So if you plan to use wood remember that you might have to replace it every few years if it rots.
- Ceramic and plastic pots aren’t porous and they are ideal for keeping the water in the pot. But this has a down side that if you give your plant to much water it can drown. So you might want to ensure there are a few holes in the bottom of the pot to let excessive water leak out. Just make sure you have a saucer to collect the extra water.
Also, remember the container does leak water it may leak it all over your deck. This is one reason I have our automatic watering system set to water the hanging baskets on our deck in the morning. By afternoon the deck is dry and ready for action.
The color of your container matters too! For example, if your deck gets hit with a lot of sunshine throughout the year, consider getting a light-colored container. This way it won’t absorb too much heat and dry up the plants. This, of course, will enable you to water the garden less frequently.
The real key to water conservation, however, is simply planting your roots in soil that retains moisture well. Organic compost and sand are great additions that will ensure your soil has good water retention.
Basically, if the roots of your plants are having the water delivered directly to them and the plants aren’t overexposed to sunlight, you’re not going to waste water. Your container garden will indeed need lots of sunlight, five hours or more, but during those dry, summer months, you can still find ways to water less.