growing Guide 

watering tip

All containers will dry out quickly in the heat of the summer, terra cotta the fastest of all. Containers may need to be watered daily. Soil should be moist but not soggy and water should never be standing in the pot. Remember nutrients leak out with watering so be sure to add a slow release fertilizer when planting and supplement with a liquid fertilizer.

Preparing the Soil

Make sure the pot you choose has a drainage hole and can hold at least 6 to 8 inches of soil. Place a rock over the drainage hole to prevent the soil from spilling through.

A mixture of potting soil and planting soil will work best for small containers. Potting Soil is quick to dry out including planting soil will help with water retention. Don't use soil from your garden as it will not drain quickly enough in a container. 

For really dry areas, mix "Soil Moist" into the soil at about 6" deep.

Choosing your Container

It is best to start with smaller containers for smaller gardeners so that they can do most of the planting and maintenance on their own. 

Interesting and antique-looking containers can be found in a resin material that looks like concrete and terra cotta, but is much lighter and won't dry out as quickly. 

A rainbow of beautifully colored glazed pots can be found at any nursery or home improvement center. 

Be creative. Old wheelbarrows or buckets can be fun planters, too. Just be sure to drill a few drainage holes in the bottom.

Choosing your Plants

Group plants with similar needs for soil type, sun, and water.

Use different heights: one tall plant as a centerpiece, some soft billowy plants to fill in the middle, and a trailing plant to "spill" over the top of the container.

When choosing plants remember some plants are more aggressive than others. These aggressive plants can sometimes overtake weaker plants. Keep aggressive plants under control by cutting them back. This keeps them neat and limits their growth.