Container gardens are fun to create, especially when you don’t have the time or space to create a garden in your yard. They are also very practicable in Houston, Texas, as they allow you to move plants out of the sun or into your garage during a cold spell. Container gardens are also a pretty way to decorate patios, porches and other areas of your Houston, Texas yard. And if you live in a more urban area, they are a great way to create a little garden oasis no matter how short you are on space. Container gardens are not also lovely, they can be used to grow flowers, herbs, vegetables and even fruit trees! If you are interested in creating your own Houston, Texas container garden, here are some tips and ideas for you.
Plan – What, Where and When. Before you create your Houston, Texas container garden, you need to decide what you would like to grow. Kitchen herbs? Gorgeous flowering perennials? Tomatoes? You can plant any or all of these in containers, but the requirements for each plant are different (sun, soil, water), so take a moment to think this through. Where your container garden will be is important, too. Will you keep it in bright sun or full shade? On your patio or around your Koi pond? Look at how much space you have and how much light your plants will get there. The question of when relates to when you want your plants to flower or produce fruit. Different plants will produce at different times, so think about if you want, for example, flowers that bloom in the Houston, Texas winter or tomatoes you can harvest by summer.
Pick your pots. Will you be purchasing plants already potted or plant them yourself? Pots for your Houston, Texas container garden can be all the same (this is a very nice look) or be eclectic and fun. Do you want wooden containers, clay containers – plain or painted with flowers? Hanging containers are lovely for all sorts of plants, too. You can purchase (or create) any style of container you like, but in Houston, Texas lighter colored containers are better as they absorb less heat. If you plan on moving your plants around (out of direct sun, onto a porch for protection from the cold) make sure you don’t purchase pots that are too heavy for you to move. (Stone and glazed ceramic pots tend to be heavier than terra cotta or clay.) Containers should have holes in the bottom for good drainage.
Size is very important, too. The size of the container you will need will depend on the type of plant it will hold. Plants need room to grow and thrive in their containers, and the smallest pot you should consider is 15 quarts. If you purchase plants in small containers, transplant them into larger ones with a quality soil blend. Vegetables will need deeper pots than flowers or herbs. Trees and shrubs, of course, will need much larger pots than small plants.
Planting tips. When planting your Houston, Texas container garden, first layer small rocks, then about an inch of sand and then soil. Line hanging containers with sphagnum moss or coconut coir to retain moisture in the Houston, Texas heat. To make your container garden easier to move around, use leaves instead of rocks. Pour water into the hole before planting, then water once more, to make sure your new plant is well hydrated. Container gardens have better drainage then regular gardens, so you’ll need to fertilize your Houston, Texas containers more often. If your plants start looking tall and scraggly, move the containers where they will get more sunlight. If the leaves begin to yellow, they are getting too much water.
Recommended plants. Here are some great plants for your Houston, Texas container garden:
Vegetables: snap beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and peppers.
Herbs: basil, dill and oregano.
Annuals: bachelor’s buttons, blue bonnets and morning glory.
Perennials: daisies, begonias and black-eyed Susans.
Fruit trees: lemons, limes and oranges.
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Personal experience
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