Container gardens are a fantastic way to grow plants in virtually any setting. Containers allow you to experiment with plants you might not normally grow in your garden, grow a garden on top of patios or balconies, and express your style through plant and color selection.
Successful container gardening all comes down to the quality of the plant material, the soil, and how you care for your containers. Follow our tips below for how to plant a container and how to care for a container garden during every season!
For container planting guidance and design inspiration for each season, visit our blogs:
Container Garden Planting Steps
STEP 1 – Start with quality potting soil.
- G&B Organic Potting Soil is ideal for most planting applications, including indoor or outdoor potting, container planting, and raised beds.
- FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil is infused with extra soil amendments and is well-suited to indoor or outdoor uses.
- E.B. Stone Edna’s Best Organic Potting Soil is great for indoor or outdoor container gardening; yucca extract rehydrates potting soil evenly when watering.
STEP 2 – Water plants before planting them into the container.
Make all of your plants are well-watered before beginning your planting, or toss plants (plastic pot and all) into a bucket of water or compost tea until soil is completely saturated.
STEP 3 – Add soil and arrange plants.
Fill the bottom two thirds of the pot with potting soil (or more if using a tall container), add organic starter fertilizer, and place plants at proper soil level so that the top of the plant soil is about 2 inches below the lip of the pot. Arrange your plants beginning with the largest plant and working down to the smallest, while adding soil around each plant’s roots. Leave about 1-2 inches of space before the top edge of the container to allow water to sit on the soil surface before it gets absorbed.
STEP 4 – Water your container!
Once you’ve finished planting your container garden, water it thoroughly to settle the soil in around all of the new plants.
Container Garden Care & Maintenance Tips
Water, deadhead, fertilize… repeat!
Watering Container Gardens
Watering is the most important part of container garden maintenance, so learn to love it!
- Water most pots until it runs out of the drainage holes to be sure the soil is thoroughly saturated.
- Containers in shade may need to be watered less frequently than those in more sunny areas.
- Most container plantings need to be watered once per day during the hottest months, occasionally skipping a day, as needed.
- During the rainy season if the container is exposed it will only need to be watered if the rain stops. Containers under cover should be watered at least weekly during Fall, Winter and early Spring.
Fertilizing Container Gardens
Container plantings have limited resources to obtain nutrients and rely heavily on being fertilized for peak performance.
- Slow-release organic or time-release conventional fertilizers are best added at planting time and reapplied every 4–6 weeks or according to the label.
- A “cocktail” of Rose Society Fertilizer 15-10-10 mixed with equal parts G&B Organic All-Purpose or G&B Paradise Fertilizer is a great combo.
- For a boost of nutrition more immediately available to plants, use a liquid fertilizer every two weeks such as G&B High Bloome or G&B High Growth.
Deadheading & Pruning Container Gardens
Most flowers bloom better when spent blossoms are removed before they can form seed heads—this process is known as deadheading.
- Some small and large plants will look better with occasional light pruning or pinching back to promote a fuller growth habit or intentional form.
- Unsightly blooms, branches, and leaves can be cut back to allow the plant to regenerate after a stressful period like heat or missed waterings.
- Don’t be afraid to trim plants that are crowding others in the container to maintain balance!
Container Garden Pest Control
Healthy plants that are well-fed and well-watered are less prone to pest problems.
- Consider treating for pests before they wreak havoc on your container by incorporating preemptive organic sprays.
- For plants prone to budworm like Petunias and Geraniums, spray with BT (Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally-occurring bacteria that is pet and people-safe) every two weeks beginning in late June or early July to protect new growth from the voracious caterpillars.
Container gardens are wonderful and rewarding ways to garden. For more advice, information, and inspiration on container gardening, come visit our garden centers and speak with one of our gardening experts!