5. Fertilize The plant food in potting soil breaks apart over time. To ensure plants get enough nutrition, add a tablespoon or two of time- release granular fertilizer to each pot when planting in containers. Around the end of June, add some more fertilizer. For annual flowers that you want to bloom heavily, a liquid fertilizer once a week at half the suggested dose (sometimes called the “weakly, weekly method”) works well. Vegetables do well with an organic option such as fish emulsion.
HERB S AND ORNAMENTAL S
Herbs are the easiest plants to grow in a container. They’re also useful. Mint and lemon balm brighten up beverages. Fresh chives and parsley are ideal for cooking. And you can freeze basil to keep on hand if you want to make pesto. Ornamental containers look terrific nearly anywhere, whether it’s with a striking single plant such as a mandevilla, an evergreen shrub, or with a grouping of wildly blooming flowers. If you have a dramatic container that complements your home, the plant can be simple and still make an impact. If you have an outdoor spot, plant for pollinators or hummingbirds by choosing nectar flowers, such as salvia, zinnia, or fuschia.
L I V I NG WE L L
MAKE THE ( V I RTUAL ) CONNECT I ON
Taking Up Art at Any Age It’s never too late get in touch with your creative side. Doing so could satisfy your soul — and maybe even improve your health.
Looking to connect with like-minded gardeners online? A quick web search will turn up plenty of groups. And Facebook has a wealth of groups, including some devoted to container gardening.
BY KAT I E LA J I NE S S
Mary Lahr Schier is the author of The Northern Gardener, FromApples to Zinnias ( Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2017). She also hosts a gardening podcast, Grow it, Minnesota.
12
13
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs