7 Container Gardening Mistakes to Avoid

Container gardening enables you to create a garden anywhere – on a balcony or patio, in rental accommodation, or just on a sunny windowsill. To help you get started, we’ve put together our tips on the most common container gardening mistakes to avoid.

Avoid These Seven Container Gardening Tips

1. Avoid using lots of small containers. Small pots dry out fast and need frequent watering. A space filled with lots of small pots can also feel cluttered and claustrophobic. Using big pots in a small area may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s true - a few large pots will have more impact, making the space feel more spacious and easier to maintain.

2. Don’t forget to feed your container plants. Although the compost they’re planted in contains nutrients, these get used up in the first 4 to 6 weeks after planting, and nutrients also get washed out of the pot every time you water. Different plants have different feeding needs, so do your research first. For example, container-grown tomatoes need a regular feed once they start to produce fruit, while succulents like sedums need minimal extra feeding.

3. Water your container plants regularly, and don’t just rely on rainfall, as your plants’ foliage can stop rain from reaching the compost. Dig your finger into the compost to check whether container plants need watering to see whether it is still moist below the surface, or use a moisture gauge.

4. Don’t be tempted to ignore the dilution instructions – fertilizer can burn plant roots if it’s too concentrated.

5. Good drainage is absolutely essential for container plants, so don’t forget to check that containers have drainage holes (drill some if necessary). Before putting compost in new pots, place a few crocks (pottery shards) or big stones over the holes to stop compost from clogging them up, and raise pots on pot feet over winter to prevent your plants from sitting in cold, soggy compost.

6. Big pots can be weighty when filled with compost, so don’t try to move them after planting them. Please place them in their final positions while still empty, and then add your compost and plants. Or place big pots on a trolley, so you can move them easier.

Are you looking for trendy container plants and pots? We stock  flower pots, containers and planters, and a seasonal range of bedding plants and perennials that will look beautiful in your garden. Shop everything you need in our centre in Winnipeg.