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How to Plant a Container
There's a huge variety of different types of container readily available and you can grow most plants in containers. Choose them to match the mood of your garden. Where you put your containers affects your choice of plants. For hot patios, you'll want sun loving, drought tolerant plants such as geraniums (Pelargoniums). Cool, shady spots suit shade tolerant subjects which need more moisture around their roots to thrive. If you're planning a mixture of different plants in the same container, make sure they enjoy the same conditions too, for best results.
Even in small gardens, you'll make more impact by using larger containers. Put containers in their final resting place before you plant. Once they're full of compost and plants, they will be heavy and awkward to move.
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Container; choice of plants; crocks (broken pots) or stones; potting compost - or a loam basedtype such as John Innes, if planting trees and shrubs; ericaceous compost if planting acid-loving plants such as heathers and rhododendrons; hand rowel; watering can
Optional: piece of landscape membrane such as Plantex or sacking; gravel or pebbles to finish the top of the compost; slow-release fertiliser in pelleted form.
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Check your container has drainage holes in the base or at the bottom of the sides. Some plastic containers may have to be drilled through. Cover the holes with crocks or stones - make a layer about 7 - 10 cm deep. If you have it to hand, cut a piece of sacking, Plantex membrane, or J cloth to cover the crocks. This filters water through but will stop your compost from being washed down.
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Use the pot of your largest plant to check the amount of compost to add to the container. Hold it inside the container, leaving space at the top, so that the compost surface will finish about 3 cm below the rim. Put compost into the container to this level.
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Arrange plants in their pots on top of the compost. Allow space for them to fill out as they grow. Start by planting the plant with the tallest pot. Ease it out of its pot and place it in position.
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Add more compost to get the correct planting height of smaller plants - level with the first, largest plant. This ensures the smaller plants do not sink or have their roots dangling in space. Ease plants out of their pots keeping their rootballs intact, and place them in the container. Use handfuls of compost to fill in the spaces between the roots of each plant, firming them in as you go. At this stage, if you are using slow-release fertiliser, add some pellets to the compost (the package will tell you how much to use). The pellets should be in the spaces between the plants and not in contact with the roots.
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Water the planted container well, using the rose attachment on your watering can so as not to wash the top layer of compost away from the roots of the plants. Apply a layer of gravel or pebbles to cover the top of the compost. Not only does this look good, but it helps to retain moisture around the plants, and stops the top of the compost from forming a crust which sheds water from it. Water your container regularly - daily in hot dry weather.
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Position container and partially fill with compost. |
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Arrange plants, space, and check planting levels. |
Plant plants and fill in around, firming them well in. |
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