Container Gardening

The early spring we are having in Minnetonka, Wayzata, Eden Prairie…well, OK, in Minnesota, has had me thinking about getting outdoors and working on some curb appeal. 

A really easy way to make your home “pop” is with your landscaping.  You don’t have to go all out and spend big bucks to make an impact either.  Flowers give you a big bang for your buck especially if you follow a few easy rules when planting.

For instance, when planting your window boxes and planter pots think about the scale and density of your plantings.  You want the colors and textures to be seen from the street.  Many people choose plants that are too small and they just end up getting lost in the container.  When choosing plants, remember that you are going to be burying half of what you see I the soil (the part of the plant that is in the container).  All of the sudden, a plant that is 12” in your cart is now 6” once planted.  Buy the largest plants that make sense for your budget.  Also, pack your plants in…where you may have used 5 plants before, use 7 or 8.  Your plantings will look substantial to start and absolutely stately by the end of summer.



Image courtesy of morguefile



Another thing that I like to do is use a real quality soil in my containers.  I use a product like Miracle Grow oil which comes with a time released fertilizer as well as a technology that helps the soil remain moist.  If you are over planting your containers as highlighted above, they are going to need lots of water and extra nutrients.  Good soil makes it a no brainer so all you have to do is water occasionally and enjoy.   

An easy way to give your planters and window boxes inexpensive height is using thin, willowy branches – like Curly Willow.  Once your plantings are done, pop a few of the branches towards the back of the planter and you get instant height and unique texture on the cheap.  You can even use interesting branches you find around your yard, for free.

The big box home improvement stores, local hardware stores like Ace, and even grocery stores have really good prices on plants.