DIY Garden and Container Growing Tips
Whether you're short on yard space or waiting out the long, cold winter, there are still plenty of ways to grow some plants and let your inner gardener out. Container growing is one of the best ways to enjoy gardening in the confines of your indoor space, especially since there are plenty of ways you can DIY your own containers! But the rules of container growing are not necessarily the same as gardening outdoors – there are a few quirks you need to be familiar with to ensure your container garden is successful.
Before you start on our container garden, here are some of our best DIY garden and container growing tips so that you can have a thriving collection of plants:
- Plan Your Pots. First things first, choose the pots and containers you're going to be using. You can buy pots and raised beds from a nursery, but feel free to DIY your own containers, too! Try using a colander as a hanging basket or a pallet as a raised gardening bed. We also sell kits to help you form biodegradable seed pots using newspapers!
- Pay Attention to Drainage. No matter what containers you're using, make sure that you're checking for holes for drainage. If there aren't any draining holes, the water will pool at the bottom of the container, making your soil too wet and causing your plant's roots to rot. Drill holes into the bottom of your containers to ensure you're getting the drainage your plants need.
- Evaluate Your Lighting. Don't overestimate the amount of light your plants will get – it can be hard to find direct sunlight for your plants. Figure out the best places for your plants to live based on the amount of lighting you get and choose plants that can survive in those lighting conditions.
- Plan Your Plants. Before heading to the nursery, think about the plants you want to grow. Consider what you want the plants to look like, what kinds of pots and containers can support these plants, if they fit with your lifestyle, your lighting, and if where you live can support these plants. Make a list of what you're considering, or even have some pictures available of the plants you're interested in growing. Then, go to the nursery and ask a gardening professional for advice and assistance to help you make your final choices.
- The More Soil, the Better. Don't skimp out on soil! We recommend Fertilome potting mixes. Fill the pot entirely with the proper soils for your plants, and it will help with water retention, ultimately giving you a much larger margin for error when feeding and watering plants. You may add some stone at the bottom of the pot if extra drainage is needed.
Our certified staff and Illinois Certified Nurseryman can answer all your landscaping and gardening questions. Stop by Winding Creek Nursery for a variety of trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, and vegetable plants, as well as home and garden decor. Visit our website or call us at (630) 553-7211.
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