Container plants are a great option for gardeners who want to have flowers but are limited by their yard space. Containers, while generally cheaper than traditional flower gardens, do come with a few drawbacks. Namely, they lack the lushness and continuity of a permanent garden, as the roots of the plants do not grow through the soil in a traditional manner. However, there is an easy way to overcome this problem. You can easily create the visual effect of a garden by landscaping with flowers. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your containers.
You will need to create separate zones for container flowers in your yard. A planting zone does the majority of the work in creating an aesthetically pleasing yard. Different zones can be established in order to encourage certain blooms or even prevent others from occurring. This process is simple to do, and a great way to give an area of your yard with its own personality. Simply use different colored plants in different zones, or have one plant in each zone.
Full sun container flowers are the easiest to handle. These will tend to have the most growth at any given time, so if you choose to plant a full sun perennial in a sunny spot, it should do quite well. If you have ever had those unfortunate years where a plant would die out right before your very eyes, you know full sun container flowers may not be the best options for you. While many people opt for container roses to fill their pots, many perennials do quite well with only moderate light. If you plan on putting annuals in hanging baskets, you should plan on planting them somewhere in the shade.
You can also plant annuals and perennials that prefer a bit of shade in your garden. As most annuals are fairly dormant during the colder months, you can try placing them in a shaded area in your yard to get them ready for the spring sunshine. Annuals that like full sun will need to be planted in a pot in a shaded spot and either water them every couple of weeks or keep them covered with a plastic umbrella.
Speaking of watering your container flowers, if you have a sunny spot in your yard you should only water your perennials when it is getting close to being fully grown. This will help you avoid problems if you are not careful. You never want to over-water zinnia or lantana. They do very well with low moisture. If you are interested in using a humidifier, make sure that it does not have chlorine or chloramine in the water. Both of these are poisonous to both plants and flowers.
If you have a hot summer where the temperatures rise above 100 degrees, you should be aware that the roots of most flowers will begin to wilt and die. You should water your containers prior to their blooming season in order to prevent this problem. In addition, you may choose to water in the fall so that the roots will have time to acclimatize themselves to the high temperature. With this method, you should see a dramatic difference in the overall appearance of your blooming flower bed.
The last thing to know about dealing with your blooming flower beds in the late summer and early fall is that you want to separate your zones. Zones separate the plants based on whether they prefer a more humid climate or one with more frost. By doing this, you can control the moisture level in each zone, which helps to ensure that your flowers will continue to bloom and develop as nature intended.
Most perennials like true lilies require very little maintenance. As long as you follow a regular watering schedule, the majority of them will survive for one or two years. Many times people mistakenly water their plants so frequently that they inadvertently over water. This causes the roots to overheat which causes the blooms to wilt. By following a plan with boundaries and providing sufficient nutrients to the roots, most perennials can live for up to three years in a container garden.