Container Garden
For Best Display of Color

A container garden is your answer for seasonal color with a minimum of work. With plants in boxes you can have a succession of color from the time spring bulbs bloom until frost nips mums.

When seasonal flowers fade, whisk them out of sight and replace them with others. Try annuals like petunias or marigolds, big bold foliage plants like canna and castorbean, or shrubs and trees with dramatic shapes.

They grow in a small amount of soil, their roots are restricted, and the container is surrounded with air which makes the soil dry out faster.

When the soil is almost dry, it’s time to water your plant. This will vary type of soil and climate. During summer, many outdoor container-grown plants will need water every day, even twice a day.

Tuberous begonias and cinerarias are in this category. On the other hand, camel-like succulents can go days without water.

Tips on feeding and watering.

You can help keep soil from drying out too rapidly in your container garden by using a potting soil mixture that includes moisture-retaining peat moss, sieved sphagnum, vermiculite; waterproofing containers of wood with paint, or with liners of foil or plastic film. Or you can set clay flowerpots inside larger containers, filling space between with dampened sphagnum or peat moss.

Because frequent watering will wash plant food out of soil, potted plants usually need extra feeding. A schedule of every other week is about right. Use a “complete” plant food, following manufacturer’s directions both on amounts and application.

When building a container from wood, use rot-resistant material, as redwood or cedar. Coat inside with waterproof paint. Make holes in bottom to permit drainage. Soil should be a type that absorbs and holds water, yet lets surplus drain out through holes below.

How to Move Potted Plants

For short distances, roll plants on sections of pipe. Use 3 or more pieces rotated.

A two-man “Egyptian carry” is easy to improvise. You’ll need 2 equal length 2x4s for handles, and a length of rope for hammock-like supporting pocket.

Heavy burlap sacks or pieces of canvas make good slings for pulling and sliding heavy planters across paving. On lawns, use long board as a smooth roadway.

Use Junior’s wagon for long-distance hauling. If the container is too big to fit inside the wagon, put planks across to give the needed extra width.

Use your broad snow shovel for a skid. You won’t have to lift it. Works best on grass or other smooth surface. Have second person hold plant in position.