There are many good reasons why container gardening and large outdoor planters are the way to go. For starters, you do not have the problems of soil with pot gardening. Containers are a great way to introduce exotic plants, rare or hard-to-find species, and even vegetables that are difficult to grow in the ground – at least if you are not dedicated to the plant’s care. Also, container gardening is better for the environment, since traditional vegetable gardens take more water and energy than they do in container gardening.
In container gardening, plants are planted so they are able to climb up the walls of the container. This allows the plants’ roots to reach the higher branches and foliage on the outside of the container, which means more nutrients for the plants’ roots and less dirt on the bottom soil. It is a more organic way to keep your garden clean and your plants healthy. If your plants’ roots can go up and down the walls, they are less likely to clog up in the bottom, leaving you with a clean, nutrient-rich bottom soil.
With the type of container you choose, you also avoid the potential for soil compaction or blockages from soil particles getting trapped in the holes of the bottom of the container. When plants are planted in pots, their roots spread out over a large area, covering some but not all of the pot. As the roots spread out, they also push the soil particles toward the container edges where they can get caught in the roots of the plants or in the sides of the container. Containers that are wider, with deeper holes for the roots to spread out, tend to work better for this purpose.
A variety of soil types can be used in container gardens and pots. Clay planters can be used to maintain soils with clay particles or potting soil that is loose and loosely packed. The container’s weight will help to keep soil particles in place and prevent them from moving around in the container. Wood planters work well for container gardening with peat moss, which has a tighter compression quality than clay.
Once you have selected the best large outdoor planters to fit your needs, you may be wondering what plants will look best in these containers. The answers to this question depend upon how you want to use your garden, the space you have available and the amount of sun your plants will need. You should consider that if you are going to have flowers in your garden, you will probably have to water them more often than plants that grow better in shade. Also, perennials that live through the winter months will usually do better in heavy sunlight. Sunlight is also important for container herb gardens that need the heat of the sun to survive the cold months of winter.
For container gardens with small areas, fill the large outdoor planters with one type of plant, such as ferns, perennials or vegetables. If you have a wide variety of plants to choose from, then you may find that you need more planters than you initially anticipated. Consider planting low-growing plants in the base of your container planters to ensure they do not get lost in the dense underbrush. Low growing plants will also keep pests from bothering your garden, which can be a nuisance when you are gardening in areas where there are pests around all the time.
Another benefit of filling the base of your planters with a container is that you can move them around the garden as needed. Do you find a spot that is too barren and unappealing? By putting a planter there, you can bring life to your garden. Just turn the planter often to ensure it is not sitting idle. The constant movement of a planter also keeps weeds from taking up residence in the shallow areas where the planters are positioned.
Fill planters with rocks to define the shape of the container and make the area surrounding the planter inviting and visually appealing. Rocks can also be placed on the bottom of the planter to define spaces in your garden. If you would like a very natural look, you can fill your planter with natural river rocks or tiny pebbles, which are easily found at any hardware store. If you do choose to use rocks, be sure that you clean the rocks before using them in your garden so that you do not end up with a dirty, unsightly and unappealing planter. You can also put a plant or two in the bottom of your planter if you desire a very natural and Zen look.