Comments on: 5 Container Gardening Mistakes to Avoid

By: Anita Haley

Anita Haley — Sat, 21 Jun 2025 20:49:51 +0000

In reply to jo. Jo, do you have a blog i can follow?

By: Meredith

Meredith — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 08:06:41 +0000

In reply to Jennifer. You can also fill them with old plastic plant containers, cut up “noodles” that kids use in pools, etc. Your idea is probably a good one since it essentially is adding some compost to the containers.

By: Meredith

Meredith — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 08:02:50 +0000

In reply to Michael. All those things depend on what you are growing, so it’s hard to outline them all in one short article. You will have to do some research online. The info is all there. 👍😁

By: Nicol

Nicol — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 09:39:58 +0000

Hey, Taya, nice article! Great job on writing it, it`s helpful for new gardeners.

By: Camille L Woolf

Camille L Woolf — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 21:23:07 +0000

In reply to Richard Buse. Super smart idea, Richard. Even though I'm far away, Georgia gets ridiculously hot too. More humidity but similar high temps. What do you have in place to help with the wind? I travel though Texas weekly and it seems like y'all have an abundance of it....

By: Carla Schmidt Roark

Carla Schmidt Roark — Fri, 12 May 2017 00:21:42 +0000

In reply to cynda douglas. I love this Idea! I have two of the large thick walled type you speak of. I will give this a try for sure. Thank you for being so gracious and sharing your idea.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 12:53:13 +0000

While waiting to move, I have had my cottage garden in pots 4 about 2-3 years. It’s about 250-350 plants. Every spring and fall I check to see if the plant is root bound. I top up the potting soil and put it in a larger pot. If you don’t do this , some plants will die. I still buy new plants when they are on sale. Last fall my big score was 5 Japanese Maples 4 $20.00.
I am moving in 2 weeks and my garden is in my friends yard until the winter is over. I live in a zone 5.
If you do want to move your garden, it is a lot of work, but well worth the cost of replacing all the plants. My Japanese Maples are wrapped in bubble wrap in my porch. If you have any questions about certain plants, it is always a good idea to check the internet for over wintering in pots.
Can’t wait till the snow is gone and I see what my new yard will look like.
P.S I collect rocks to, big and small only moved 40, leaving behind 450. My husband thinks I nuts!

By: Marie Moore

Marie Moore — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 20:30:36 +0000

In reply to Rosie Leake. That is one of the best ideas, I have ever heard of!

By: Aly

Aly — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 00:07:43 +0000

In reply to Kathy. I am in North Carolina and find the water crystals are great, my biggest problem is hanging baskets. Years ago I mounted a birdbath on the deck railing and every morning and every evening I give one of the baskets a chance to sit and soak up water. I also line the cocomat baskets with plastic then fill with dirt. A couple of holes poked in the bottom helps then soak up water while the plastic around the sides helps keep them from drying out as soon. I have 4 Japanese maples on my deck and big pots elp them from drying out. I find herbs do better in the garden, never had luck with basil in pots. I also switch out the dirt every year and dump the old dirt in my vegetable garden. I use 3 parts potting soil and 1 part compost or aged manure. During the worst part of the summer deadhead the plants way back and really give them a good shot of fertilizer once a week. I like Peters over Miracle grow. I just mix 1/2 tea. in a gallon of water. A week solution but fine on a weekly basis. Beautiful flowers all fall. Learn what does best in your area is key!

By: Jaime McBrady

Jaime McBrady — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 15:43:08 +0000

I’ve recently had a second herniated disc and have to reluctantly control my compulsive -gardening-disorder. I was considering moving more plants–mainly cottage flowers–into pots. It would seem to me an easier way to control spreading varieties, weeds and back-breaking labor. My back yard is mainly woodland so not much care needed. Advice???

By: Rosie Leake

Rosie Leake — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 15:57:45 +0000

In reply to Sunny. I have a number of really large ceramic pots . I gather pine cones and layer them half way up the pot then cover with weed fabric (tucking it down the side of the walls) and then put it my soil. It keeps the pots remarkably light and it is better for the environment. The fabric allows the water to drain and there is very little settling. Its worked out great.

By: Cho

Cho — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 00:51:45 +0000

In reply to cynda douglas. great idea! I had planned to throw my Styrofoam (fish) containers out. Glad I saw your suggestion. Thanks.

By: Kit

Kit — Wed, 13 May 2015 19:54:21 +0000

In reply to cynda douglas. THANK YOU! I have never thought of this idea, it's perfect! I cannot wait to go and grab a few from the local shops.

By: Sunny

Sunny — Wed, 13 May 2015 15:31:27 +0000

In reply to cynda douglas. Thank you for the idea using the Styrofoam containers...I just bought ceramic ones at a local nursery and were too pricey and the ones at the dollar store were too small. Now I will know what to look for during the fall!

By: Taya K

Taya K — Sun, 03 May 2015 22:24:11 +0000

In reply to cynda douglas. That's a great idea to use those containers! Thanks for sharing!

By: cynda douglas

cynda douglas — Sun, 03 May 2015 05:49:23 +0000

I had an appartment with a patio and I found a container I always liked to use. Styrofoam coolers, large rectangular ones, mostly, and even some smaller round ones., They are usually white, which looks nice, and i have grown regular tomatoes, flowers, etc in them. You do have to fill them where you plan to leave them. They can be moved, full, but will break unless lifted carefully by the bottom. I poked the drain holes in the sides, just above the bottom, as doing it in the bottom doesn’t work, as it sets down tight and seals them off. I use a piece of screen on the inside over theholes. I have had an edge break off, but I found a strip of duct take around the top and maybe the base adds strength. Now one can get decorative tape. They are very inexpensive for a large container and easily replaced. A real plus is sun hitting them does not heat up the roots like plastic or ceramic. I love the larger, very thick walled ones that fish are shipped in. Great for flowers. I have had some I have even used for several years with a bit of care. Have a great summer.

By: Taya K

Taya K — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 14:41:29 +0000

In reply to pauline. I don't actually plant any roses in containers. I put them in the ground. The only stuff I plant in containers are annuals and some veggies.

By: pauline

pauline — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 17:19:52 +0000

In reply to jo. when do change the soil for the roses, I grew 15 roses in the garden, but neve in pots, im so interested in how u maintained the soil every year, without changing the soil after 3 yrs. thank you

By: Maryanna

Maryanna — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 21:43:08 +0000

Soil: make sure it is potting soil(not top soil, not perennial mix)
Most reputable nurseries have a brand they grow with or sell their own potting mix.
No matter what brand you choose, you will still have to fertilize once a month or so.
With containers, all the nutrients drain away too , so they need extra nourishment.

Fertilizer: use a formula recommended for annuals, or with a bloom booster.
Osmocote is a nice time-release fertilizer for pots.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 17:47:38 +0000

I’m confused. No mention of the type of potting mix. No mention of the type of fertilizer. No mention of the size of the container as it relates to the type of plants that are being grown.

By: Lora

Lora — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 04:02:21 +0000

most important…..u need good sunlight! Morning sun is best.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 12:09:19 +0000

Here in South Carolina, I do not water my containers every day, instead I use Miracale Grow moisture soil, or I add the crystals that absorb water, and I mulch the top of the soil.

By: Cathy Testa

Cathy Testa — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 13:59:41 +0000

Great tips and very similar to advice I share with my container gardening friends, clients, and world. Do you mind my sharing of your tips at a class I have coming up? Let me know via the email above. With full credits of course, Cathy T

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 18:15:41 +0000

Instead of using Styrofoam to fill large pots that you don’t need to fill all the way with soil, I’ve started filling the bottoms of pots with leaves or partially composted compost. It does a good job filling the space, helps retain moisture better, adds nutrients the plants need and continues to break down over the summer. I dump it all either into my garden or back into my composter at the end of the summer.

By: Richard Buse

Richard Buse — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 12:23:18 +0000

These are great tips. Thanks for sharing them. Soil weight is a crucial issue, especially for hanging baskets. Peat moss or potting soils are much lighter than regular top soil. Also, sometimes quality winds up being less expensive in the long run when it comes to purchasing pots. I live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where summer temperatures between 90 and 105 are common. The plastic pots I’ve purchased got brittle and cracked after a few years of being exposed to that heat. I’ve taken to buying clay pots on sale in October/November for use the following year.

By: jo

jo — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 15:11:34 +0000

Sheila, I have over 100 roses growing in pots. I use MiracleGro potting soil and mix in some dry horse manure. I water every day in the summer here (South Texas). I fertilize every 2 weeks at half strength during the spring. My roses are growing great! They do get partial shade in the afternoon.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 21:16:52 +0000

Hi there! I just impulse bought a ton of plants to start my container garden when I saw a big spring sale at Home Depot-glad to see I’m not the only one getting ambitious in the first go-around! I’m already worried that I bought the wrong soil though. What are your soil recommendations? Have you used any that really stunk? Thanks for your help! 🙂

Sheila