According to expert gardeners, plants growing directly from the earth tend to 'spread their branches' in an uncontrolled manner. Container gardening can help to bring in some sort of control over growing plants. Additionally, complementing species have many uses such as behaving like an insect repellent and adding flavor to vegetables. To be more specific, if you should decide to add oregano to containers containing bean plants, the flavor of the vegetable is enhanced! Similarly, oregano added to broccoli keeps away insects.



Since these containers take the place of natural earth in the concept of container gardening, each plant has to be given the appropriate home for its survival and comfort. Plan out where you are going to place the containers, the type of plants you wish to grow in them, and most important of all, whether the outside garden and container garden blend to create an aesthetically pleasant picture.

Now for the containers themselves! To prevent rotting, solid wood is a good choice, much better than terra cotta. Also, there is better insulation for plants placed in wooden containers. People living in cold regions go in for terra cotta. These containers do give plants the freedom to breathe and ensure healthier roots, but at the same time allow the soil inside to harden and freeze. Thus, the container could break.

If you crave a natural atmosphere, go for cement or stone containers. Of course, these are too heavy to keep moving around, so they get permanent places to stay. In contrast, plastic containers are much lighter and easy to maneuver anywhere. The disadvantage is that plants may not receive sufficient oxygen to ensure healthy growth.

But wait! Container gardening does give you the choice of moving the containers at will. This is an advantage when changing weather conditions pose a challenge to the plants contained within them. You may also wish to play around with various permutations and combinations to create a visual vista for all to see. Make it easy on yourself by placing the containers on wheeled platforms.

Flowers in any garden present a riot of colors! Fortunately, all sorts of flowering plants, including perennials and annuals, can be adapted for container gardening. Ensure that these plants get enough sunlight, fertilizer and water. Surround the plants with mulch to get excellent results! Remove the dead or dying blossoms from the plants, so that new buds can be formed.

Putting aside flowering and ornamental plants, container gardening is the best way to grow your own herbs! You can even grow two or more herbs in the same container; they are very adaptable. All that is required to start them off is seeds!

So make a study of your environment and enhance its beauty with container gardening! The final result should prove to be a very rewarding experience for one and all!