September 4, 2000
St. Louis County Fair & Air Show
Container Gardening
John Pertzborn & Randi Naughton

Welcome to the September meeting!

Today we are going to discuss container gardening and put together some fun and interesting samples for a hands-on experience. Some of us, this spring, did some container gardening, gifts for Mother's Day or Father's Day. Some of us planted some large containers at Sherwood Forest with vegetables for the "Plant-A-Row for the Hungry" program in April. Some of us have learned the wide opportunities that are available to us with container gardening from sun to shade, from outdoors to indoors. Are there any children here that planted any of these containers? Do oyou remember how easy it is to plant a container garden? Do you remember some of the major advantages of container or raised-bed gardening?


Some advantages of raised-bed gardening are:

  • Better drainage. Growing plants in raised beds is a logical choice for gardeners with heavy, poorly drained soils. Raised beds permit plant roots to develop in soil held above water-logged or compacted zones. This provides a more optimum soil environment for root growth. As beds are built up, compost or other forms of organic matter may be incorporated, further improving soil structure, drainage and nutrient-holding capacity.

  • Higher yields. Better root growth from improved soils leads to higher yields for food crops and lusher growth of ornamental plantings. Also, intensive planting in raised beds means more plants can be grown in a smaller area than with conventional row-cropping techniques. No space is wasted between rows.
  • Expanded growing season. Better drainage speeds soil warming and allows earlier spring planting. In wet seasons, soil dries out faster, permitting planting to proceed between rains.

  • Maintenance. Because plants are growing above the level of walkways, less stooping is required for weeding, watering and other chores. Intensively planted raised beds provide dense foliage cover, shading out much weed growth.

  • Using difficult sites. Raised beds make gardening possible on sites where growing plants would otherwise be impossible. Rooftop gardens and raised beds on top of solid rock are examples. Terraced raised beds turn hillsides into productive growing areas while reducing soil erosion potential.
There are many reasons for container gardening. Another one getting back to our April meeting, the ease of going out and at your heights and planting - you did not have to lean down - get down on your knees. Everyone can container garden - for seniors - or people with disabilities - this is a fun and easy way to grow your own garden. Everyone has their own reason for container gardening. Some like the idea of having a parade of different plants to admire collecting them. Others enjoy watching their collection unfold at close range. From city to county, people only have a paved area to beautify a limited space while others unable to get down and work the ground and enjoy garden from raised containers. Some just like to option of continual change and garden never becomes monotonous. Many people with large outdoor gardens use containers to create seasonal accents or party type star performers. Container gardening also lets you create a tropical climate with a wide range of tropical plants. And possible wintering over to changing with new plants or ideas each year. Understanding when you are growing plants in a container you need to see it from the plants point of view. For good looking healthy plants, factors that are taken for granted plant no longer able to roam about in search for life giving moisture, a steady water supply is crucial. Soil should be the best possible - organic matter, top soil, cattle manure, sand or perlite and vermiculite in various proportions is necessary or planting mixtures with some top soil or 2/3 ProMix and 1/3 top soil and 1/3 sand is what I like to use. Don't overlook the need for regular applications of a complete fertilizer during the growing season. In October fertilizing can be reduced. Good water soluble fertilizer such as Schultz - Instant Soluble Plant Food is great. I always add to these, Osmocote - a growth fertilizer pellet that decomposes as the season progresses. From early spring to fall of continual daily watering causes leaching thus the need of continual replacing of nutrients for the plants. One needs to remember the amount of air space, the container is surrounded by air and can dry out quickly/easily. Morning watering sometimes is not enough. Be especially aware with hanging baskets. Even though it's cool but windy the plants really lose a lot of moisture. At this point and time and need to be watered often.

Drainage - this is very crucial so the plant can be able to drain and the amount of air space remains after water has drained will also determine which plants survive. You need to let your creative thoughts, ideas become relating, don't let silly ideas stop your way of doing something. Trial and error - school of hard knocks is the best learning. I am going to help you with some basic, fundamentals and ways I have been lucky growing things. I am going to show you and things others are doing, new and old ideas. Many people have realized the enormous range of plants that can be grown in containers in St. Louis. Everyone I know has a different reason for using containers to admire a plant up close, have a limited space, a way to add unexpected touches of foliage or color to backgrounds, or create seasonal accents. Water gardening for fun and ease along wit the sound of water movement. Many vegetables and herbs are easy to grow in pots, containers or raised planters.

Plants themselves take on a new character in containers -- for instance, a field of daisies are picturesque but a container of daisies have certain beauty also in a container on a terrace or deck.
  1. CONTAINERS

    The traditional flower pot with sides that slope outward slightly, has been used in gardens since Roman times. Obviously containers are used for growing plants in the greenhouse and nursery. Why not use containers if you have a yard? Containers can be a clay pot with a wide range of terra cotta from Mexico, Italy and Spain. You might use a container beginning as ornaments for their own decorative use and then the foliage or annuals/flowering plants to accent or bring a new look - color to the area and the container. A formal Italian style garden could be embellished with Florentine urns and pots. Containers can be used as focal points to draw the eye to various parts of a garden, to set end of a vista, mark a turn in a path, etc. Window boxes allow you to bring foliage and color to a house or terrace, wall or porch railing. Hanging baskets - plastic, redwood, clay or moss lined wire baskets can provide that added burst of color or accent on a fence, porch, garage or overhang. There are plenty of places for hanging baskets but for obvious reasons one should avoid windy sites. They can be planted to grow in sun or shade. For easy use try to avoid baskets not too high or a watering want/hose will also be needed. With all containers but especially baskets, be sure to watch with the wind and all sides exposed to keep a close eye on the moisture level, a good soaking (water once and throughout, go back water again and again, or slowly for a few minutes to build up a good moisture level). Always bear in mind and consider what the purpose is and what you want to grow or effect you wish to accomplish and then logically decide on the suitable size to fit the plant or plants - don=t have too small so that there is no room for extra soil/root development and moisture build-up with good drainage of container of course.


  2. SOIL - PLANTING MEDIUM

    The standard soilless mixes are free of disease organisms, weed seeds and insects. Understanding special mixes sold at garden stores, nurseries, are sols under a wide variety of names, potting soil, ProMix, Jiffy Mix, MetroMix, Redi Earth, are known as ASoilless Mixes@. This does not mean they are dirt free. When in fact, most are all natural ingredients. Peat moss, a redwood soil condition, pine, fir bark, Vermiculite, Perlite or a sand, either Meramec or White sand. I personally use ProMix and add sand, and some manure and/or compost. Just for soil texture and the added nutrients.

    ** You need to make sure you have good drainage of water through soil mixture.
    ** Air in soil after drainage - Root development.
    ** Material that will hold a reservoir of water in soil after the good drainage (Plants roots need air for good growth and respiration).
    Most soilless mixes are ready for immediate use sold in 40/50 lb. Bags or 2 cubic to 6 cubic foot bags.


  3. PLANTS

    No plant should be overlooked to be able to grow in a container.


  4. WATERING

    When you're growing plants in containers, it helps to see it from the plants point of view. Remember the containers are exposed on all sides. The plants roots are no longer able to search underground for life-giving moisture. Water the container thoroughly, let it drain evenly into the soil and then water again. Not just a quick sprinkle that wets only the top couple of inches. How frequently you should water depends on the mix, the type and size of container, location, temperature, wind and humidity. I would highly recommend a morning watering if additional watering is needed in the evening, some plants advertise they need watering by wilting. Don't water by the calendar. Once your plants get established, you need to wean them off, so if you are out of town and a friend is helping you out in watering, they might not water just like you. After planting a rim of about a one (1) inch or so depending on container size, the larger the pot the larger the rim for water to be collected/accepted to store to get down into the container. A suggestion to use a mulch or pea gravel or a good low cover type plants is also advisable to help collect water in the rim and hold it In the pot and keep soil in the container. This mulch or ground cover plant also makes the container more attractive.


  5. FERTILIZING

    Don't overlook the need for regular application of a complete liquid plant fertilizer, such as Schultz. A fish emulsion is good especially outside. It does have an odor for about a few hours. During the growing season the nutrients are leached from the soil with every watering. Do not feed a lot at one time but a steady amount continuously through the growing period. The use of Osmocote, is a great slow release granular fertilizer that I think is really great. There are many good water soluble fertilizers.

    Possible additional reading:
    Gardens by Design Container Gardening by Alan Too Good.
    Gardening in Containers - Ortho Books
    Hanging Gardens - Jack Kramer.
    Hanging Gardens - Sunset Magazines.
    Hanging Baskets, Window Boxes and other Container Gardens by David Joyce.
    The Book of Container Gardening by Malcolm Hillier.
    Container Gardening by The American Horticultural Society.

    Douglas R. Wolter is a Horticulturist for St. Louis County Department of Parks & Recreation. He also has his own horticultural service.