Patio and Container Gardening Ideas

Patio gardening (or container gardening) is, quite  surprisingly, often overlooked, considering it requires no special tools or expert knowledge. Its actually quite easy to suggest ideas for your container garden or your patio garden because the rule of thumb to follow is that most plants that grow in your garden will also survive in a pot – anything from the smallest bulb to the largest tree, with a large enough pot. For vibrant and colourful flowers, a selection of bedding plants is ideal. For longer lasting solutions, a single plant such as the New Zealand flax has a contemporary feel, and bamboo looks great whatever the season. For those wishing for a productive patio, fruit and vegetables can easily be grown in pots, such as potatoes and blueberries.

           

There is a huge selection of plant pots and containers available, however several aspects to consider when choosing. Larger patios can obviously sustain more pots, however it is beneficial to choose larger pots over smaller ones, as these will require less watering. Another tip to reduce watering is to line any terracotta plant pots with a plastic bag, as the clay is porous and will allow water to seep out. Other common pots include wooden barrels, lightweight plastic, and glazed pots. For a more modern approach try metal or fibreglass containers, which are available in most garden centres. These however may need a drainage hole drilling at the base, if one is not already provided.

           

Deciding on the compost is generally a matter of quality, as this can vary greatly. Therefore the cost is also an important factor to consider, when deciding how many pots to plant. Peat-free alternatives are available and more environmentally friendly, but the quality between these tends to vary even more between brands. Compost generally contains around 6 weeks worth of fertiliser, so it is probably worth adding extra fertilizer to keep your pots flourishing all summer. A fertilizer that needs adding only once, mixing into the compost at planting time is a slow-release fertilizer. This should last the whole season.

Another thing you should consider depending on the climate and plants being potted is the addition of a water-retaining gel. The crystals are not crucial, however tests show that the amount of watering required is reduced, as the gel crystals swell and retain many times their own volume of water, which is released as the compost dries out.

           

After all that hard work, the only thing left is the maintenance. The main problem is watering, as this is a weekly task, and possibly up to daily in the hottest part of the summer. Irrigation systems with a digital water timer are the most convenient, as they allow for holidays. After setting up, they can be left to look after your patio plants for as long as you like, delivering a required dose of water to each of your plants.

           

 Towards the end of the summer, if your plants begin to wither, it may be worth giving them an extra boost of fertiliser. Add a soluble one this time with watering, and watch your plants flourish once again.

Alfresia is an online retailer of garden furniture.