Designing Containers

Dr. Gary Bachman: If you have a small yard or patio try gardening in containers, today on Southern Gardening.

Announcer: Southern Gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Dr. Gary Bachman: Gardening in containers is as easy as gathering pots and planting everything from heirloom vegetables, flowers or any other type of plants you would like. It's an uncomplicated way to scratch that gardening itch without any major landscape alterations. Container gardening can become more labor-intensive in hot weather when the containers need to be watered more frequently but the benefits are plentiful, regardless of the season. Container gardens are mobile into more sunlight, out of the sunlight, front yard or the backyard, out of sight when the plants start going downhill. You get flexibility especially on long pavements. Container gardens allow you to have the joys of gardening without any actual soil to grow in. Balconies, porches, are very small yards, you are limited no longer. Be sure to use a potting media containing peat moss, coir fiber and/or pine bark made for containers. Never use real soil when container-gardening. Containers can become part of the landscape and into the aesthetics and serving as focal points, bringing a plant closer to eye level and allowing the stems to trail over the sides; the plant is highlighted. To solve the increased watering needed, your local home improvement store has all the fittings and supplies needed to set up an inexpensive irrigation system, and if you don't like the results the view is easily changed. I'm horticulturist Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.

Announcer: Southern Gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.