Gardening is a great hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It not only provides you with fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs, but it’s also therapeutic and calming. If you have limited space in your backyard or garden area, container gardening is the perfect solution. Growing plants in pots or Plantenboxen allows you to create beautiful gardens without taking up too much real estate. Here are 10 tips on how to start your own container garden as a beginner:
1. Select Appropriate Containers
The most important step when beginning a container garden is selecting the right containers. The size and material of the container will depend on what type of plants you want to grow. For smaller items like herbs or succulents, use shallow containers that are at least six inches deep. Larger plants such as tomatoes require deeper planters with drainage holes at the bottom. Consider using plastic, metal, clay, wood, concrete, or other materials depending on the look you’re going for and what types of plants you’ll be growing.
2. Choose the Right Potting Mix
Once you have your Plant boxes selected, fill them with potting mix instead of regular soil from your yard which may contain pests or diseases that can harm your plants. Potting mixes are specifically designed for potted plants since they provide better drainage and aeration than regular soil does. Make sure to choose an organic option if possible as it will be free from harmful chemicals and provide additional nutrients for your plants to thrive in their new home!
3. Pick Sun-Loving Plants
When choosing which plants to put in your Planter boxes make sure they fit into the light requirements of your location – whether it’s full sun (six hours a day), partial sun (three to four hours per day), or shade (less than three hours per day). Most flowering annuals such as petunias require at least five hours of direct sunlight each day while some vegetables like lettuce and spinach prefer partial shade during hot summer days so check labels before planting!
4. Add Fertilizer Regularly
Plants in containers need more fertilizer than those planted directly in the ground because they tend to dry out faster due to increased evaporation rates from windy locations or lack of rain over time; this means fewer nutrients available for them! Use slow-release fertilizers every two weeks throughout spring and summer seasons then switch back to liquid formulas during fall/winter months when growth slows down significantly so they don’t get burned by excessive doses of nitrogen-rich fertilizers!
5 . Water Consistently & Regularly
Container gardening requires frequent watering as potting soils dry out quickly compared to traditional gardens with native soil; therefore it’s best practice to test moisture levels regularly by sticking your finger into the top 2 inches before adding any water – if it’s still damp then wait until the next day, otherwise add enough to allow water to drain through the drainage holes at the bottom, then set a timer reminder so you don’t forget next time!
6. Prune & deadhead your plants
Pruning helps keep your container garden looking neat and tidy by removing dead leaves or flowers from the stems – deadheading also encourages reblooming in certain varieties such as roses, and prevents mold from forming around the base due to plant debris left behind after cutting away parts that are no longer needed! It’s best practice to prune/deadhead once every few weeks depending on the species being grown ensuring it always looks its best no matter what season changes the outside world brings about.
7. Rotate your planters
With seasons changing throughout the year, many people forget to rotate their Planter Boxes in different directions so they always receive the same amount of sunlight, although the same direction originally planted in can suddenly become shaded halfway through the life cycle thus limiting potential production yields harvest time comes around the corner again eight months later.
8. Controlling weeds and pests
Proper maintenance includes controlling weeds and pests, which can be done using natural deterrents such as insecticidal soap, horticultural oils, pyrethrum, biological controls such as ladybugs, caterpillars, praying mantises, diatomaceous earth, barrier sprays, preventative methods, mulching, heavy straw, hay, grass clippings, cardboard, eggshells, coffee grounds, etc will help minimize the number of invaders that invade the paradise you have created, these tips will hopefully help navigate the waters of setting up a successful container garden and enjoy the years to come!
