Growing plants in containers in the garden is a great way to create a fabulous arrangement that you can move around and change whenever you like.
Containers are perfect for smaller spaces and paved areas, and even used in borders to create height, colour, texture and interest.
They can be taken with you when you move, and some plants even prefer to have a constricted root ball.
Here I will cover some of the best plants to grow in containers and also look at how different types of container can create interesting design features in your garden.
Types Of Containers
There is a huge range of items besides the normal plant pot that can be used for growing plants.
As long as there is good drainage and the container is safe (no jagged edges, no poisonous paint) and waterproof or lined so that it does not rot, practically any receptacle can be used.
Many people use watering cans, milk cartons, wellies, even old bathtubs can be utilised in this way to create an original look, and it’s a great way to recycle items that would otherwise be thrown away.
The classic terracotta pot is the best known, and this material is a good choice as water can actually soak into the terracotta which can help if you have accidentally over-watered it.
These pots can crack however if left outside through winter, and it is recommended to move them inside or to a greenhouse if temperatures drop below freezing.
Broken pots can still be used for crocks though so don’t throw them away.
The plastic versions are cheaper and retain water better, and do not crack in low temperatures, but will degrade over time (and don’t look as nice).
Keep re-using them as much as possible though, as this is the best way to reduce plastic waste once you have them.
There are many planters available now in metal which can give a contemporary or industrial look to your garden.
These are hard wearing but can corrode or rust.
Wooden planters look lovely and rustic but similarly can rot if not lined.
All containers must have one or more holes at the bottom for drainage, and it is recommended to add some crocks (broken pot pieces) or stones at the very bottom to stop the soil and compost from clogging the hole.
Grouping containers together can look brilliant and some can be raised at the back to create a graduated effect.
Having any sort of water feature in your garden can be a lifeline for wildlife, and while installing a pond can be a bit demanding, you can create a smaller version of this in a container.
The addition of pond plants such as irises and miniature water lily will provide refuge for visiting insects and birds, and adding rocks and pebbles to the bottom rising to the top will mean any animals that fall in can get out again.
Flowers And Foliage, Hanging Baskets And The Bulb Lasagne
Flowers are the typical display plants to have in containers and can look absolutely stunning either as just one colour and type (i.e. all yellow tulips) or a mixture of different flowers coming out at different times for an arrangement that has interest all through the seasons.
By mixing flowers like pansies or geraniums, and different types of foliage such as trailing ivy which add a vertical element and look great in window boxes, you can achieve a fulsome and balanced display that brightens up any area.
Consider having a tall plant in the centre to provide height, and then have a combination of surrounding plants with different leaf shapes and complimentary colours.
Hanging baskets can look wonderful at the front of a house, overflowing with blooms such as petunias and creeping Jenny, which trail down and provide masses of colour.
Ferns are great for hanging baskets too, although these are best placed in shady areas as full sun would scorch the leaves.
It is important to consider the location of your basket, avoid windy areas as the basket will swing about and potentially end up damaged.
It is vital to water hanging baskets regularly as they contain relatively little soil when compared to the amount of plants and so can dry out very quickly.
Another classic option for superb colour and interest is to create a bulb lasagne in a large pot or other container.
Bulbs are brilliant because they do very well in pots and once they are planted they come up year after year.
Eventually it is good after a few years to plant them on in the ground and refresh the pot with new bulbs, but on the whole this is an incredibly low maintenance way to have a beautiful display year after year.
The idea behind the bulb lasagne is to layer different bulbs that flower at different times up through the pot.
The largest bulbs go at the bottom, and these should be the flowers that come up last.
Tulips are perfect for this and like to be planted deeply anyway so their stems can support their heavy blooms.
The next layer can be something smaller like daffodils that come up slightly earlier, and the top layer your earliest blooms, hyacinths are a great choice for this which means the display starts in early spring and carries on right through to summer.
Fruit And Vegetables In Containers
Lots of types of both fruit and vegetables do really well in containers.
Fruit trees will need fairly large containers with good drainage so raising them on feet or bricks is a good idea.
Once planted and watered they will be very heavy so it’s best to set them up in their final position and plant them up there so you won’t have to move them about afterwards.
Dwarf versions of popular fruit trees will be more suited to growing in large pots or barrels (and more manageable) so look for dwarf cherry, apple and pear trees.
If you are lucky enough to live in a warm country you could consider a fig tree, or citrus trees like oranges and lemons.
Tomatoes, peppers and chillies (all technically fruits) are easy to grow in containers and can even be planted straight into the compost bag.
Potatoes are a great option for containers as you can just tip them out when you are ready to harvest.
A reasonably large pot is best and some cherry tomato varieties will hang down over the pot very attractively.
Pinch out side shoots to encourage strong growth and pick the tomatoes as soon as they are red and ripe.
There is no better tasting fruit than a tomato fresh off the vine!
Smaller fruits such as berries are also great in containers.
Blueberry plants seem to do particularly well, although they prefer rain water to tap water.
A fantastically easy berry to grow in pots is the strawberry.
This is a great option for getting kids interested in growing and eating their own food.
They can be planted in spring or autumn, usually from runners taken from an established plant.
Once they get going they will spread their own runners and these can be grown on again.
They like lots of sun and do well in hanging baskets.
Vegetables like potatoes and carrots are good options to try in pots or large containers, as long as they are reasonably deep.
You can also grow cabbages such as Cavolo Nero in a container, a very attractive dark brassica with excellent nutritional benefits.
This can be planted out in late spring/early summer and will provide crops right through to the winter.
Succulents And Alpines – Create A Miniature Rock Garden
For a really unusual and interesting display, try combining fleshy succulents such as Echeverias and Sedums with delicate alpine plants such as Saxifrages or Anacyclus, the Mount Atlas Daisy.
Both succulents and alpines need lots of drainage and gritty soil which makes them ideal partners in a container.
The addition of pebbles around the top of the planting can create a wonderful rock garden design.
Add some pebbles to the bottom of the container too to ensure good drainage.
Make Sure To Water The Right Amount
The advantages of container planting are numerous and it can be a real joy to garden in miniature!
The only real risk is underwatering, as pots dry out more quickly than plants established in the ground, or overwatering – even with good drainage if you are watering too much the soil will become saturated and roots will rot.
One way to ensure this does not happen is to group plants together with similar water requirements, this way they will all need watering at the same time.
If the weather is very hot and dry you may need to water every day, but plants in naturally shady areas will not dry out as quickly and can be missed out for a few days.
Some gardeners will make a diary to remember what needs watering when.
A good peat free compost, or the addition of vermiculite or perlite will retain water more than most garden soils.
Products are available that measure the water content of container, but if you have lots of pots this can be costly.
The best way to check really is to put your finger in the pot, as deep as you can and see how wet it feels, you can then top up or leave out as required.
Try to avoid splashing water on the leaves as this can scorch some plants in dry conditions, or cause mildew in damp spots.
Once you have a watering regime in place, you can begin to enjoy the fantastic benefits of container gardening, and experiment with different styles and designs.
Final Thoughts
Provided you don’t under or over-water, even beginner gardeners can have a beautiful, long-lasting, repeat display of flowers, foliage, fruit and vegetables.
Do please leave any comments, questions or recommendations you may have.