Annuals planted in container gardens should eventually become a mass of colourful blossoms.  To achieve this effect, normal space requirements of the individual varieties will not apply.   Annuals should be planted close together in the container, allowing only sufficient space for healthy root development.

When choosing a container, make sure it is big enough & deep enough to allow the plants to anchor themselves deep in the soil for sturdy root development.  All containers must have good drainage.   Holes in the bottom are best.  When growing outdoors, natural rainfall as well as the manual watering you do, can collect in the bottom of any pot without drainage.  Water-logged roots will soon rot and your plants will die.

Use a commercial potting soil - never straight field or garden soil which will be too heavy to drain adequately and may carry insects, disease and weed seeds.  Be sure the planting mix is sufficiently porous to allow water to drain through readily, yet has enough organic matter to keep the root area moist between waterings. 

To plant, fill your container with pre-moistened potting soil to a level that will allow you to set the new plants, root ball intact, at the same depth they had in the container you purchased them in.  Fill in around each plant with additional soil.  Be sure all roots are covered and that plants are anchored securely.  The soil surface should be about 2 cm below the rim of the pot so water will not run off.

After-planting care - Be sure you choose a location with the correct light requirement for the plants you've chosen.  Water thoroughly after planting.  Thereafter, water during the morning hours so plants can dry off thoroughly before nightfall.  This will help eliminate mildew and rotting problems.  Water is necessary to keep containers uniformly moist.   Container plants have a limited amount of soil from which to draw nourishment, so use a water soluble fertilizer regularly.  For most plants, every 2 weeks is adequate.  For some of the new vegetatively propagated plants and the Wave Petunia, fertilizing every or every other watering is needed for optimum performance.

In the hottest part of the summer, most hanging baskets require water almost every day, especially if they are exposed to wind as well.  Rainfall alone is never enough since the opening on the top of a container can not catch enough rainfall to properly water it.

If you have specific questions regarding Container Gardens, you are invited to drop us an email at info@huronridge.ca and we will try to answer you promptly.