Landscape in Miniature: Container Gardening Grows in Popularity

by Marcy Kubbs

At right, a dwarf evergreen, variegated ivy and azaleas make a pleasing combination in a glazed terra cotta pot. Click here to see more creative containers.

This time of year when the crocuses are breaking the soil, thoughts often turn to the garden. Many of us do not have gardens, and others may not have the ambition to tend a large flowerbed. The solution? A container garden!  Smaller in size, and easier to manage, container gardens have become increasingly popular. 

Why Gardening?

Research has found that including plants in our life increases our performance on mental tasks, increases our creativity and improves our health! For example, employees who work in environments with flowers and plants exhibit more innovative thinking and original solutions to problems. They also feel less frustrated and report better health. Equally interesting is the evidence that hospital patients whose rooms look out on natural settings recover more quickly from surgery.

So, what do I need to know to get started with my container garden?  Here are the basics. 

• Select a container with a hole in the bottom to allow water to drain. Containers come in a variety of materials these days, ranging from elegant ceramics to lightweight plastics. Consider a five-gallon container for trees and shrubs, or if you are planning to include multiple plants in your container. Larger containers also need less frequent watering.
  
  
• Use garden or potting soil, amending it with about one-third compost.  Compost is available at nurseries, and will help the soil retain moisture and reduce the amount of watering that is needed.
  
  
• Be creative! Use one plant or several in a pot. Select similar or contrasting colors and a variety of textures, such as coarse and fine-leaved plants. Using a mixture of evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs with perennials, annuals and bulbs adds to the year-round interest of your container garden. 
  
  
• Still puzzled about what to plant?  Here are some ideas.  For trees, consider Japanese maples, birch or dwarf cypress. Pieris, or red or yellow-twig dogwoods make a nice centerpiece to a container that can be surrounded with annuals such as geraniums or lobelia or both. A wide range of perennials can also be used.  Some of my favorites are penstemon, day lilies, or rosemary.  A single plant such as black bamboo makes a handsome planter, while ground covers like ivy, ajuga or periwinkle can add the final touch. 

Need some visual inspiration?

Take a walk downtown to see how others have planted their containers! Start at the intersection of Western Avenue and Columbia Street, traveling north on Western to Broad Street.  Or stroll through University Village, where creative container ideas abound. (Click here for a preview of some of the containers you will see!)

Ready to plant? 

Start by placing a layer of the soil and compost mixture to the bottom of your container. Add the plant with the largest ball of roots first, and smaller ones on top covering roots as you go. Arrange plants so that their depth in the pots leaves their roots just covered with soil. Keep in mind that it is best to spread the roots of the plants, especially those that have become rootbound in pots at the nursery. Also, try to keep your top layer of soil about an inch below the rim to create a reservoir when watering. Voila! Your container garden is ready to enjoy!

Marcy Kubbs is a Planning & Development Specialist for the City of Seattle Aging and Disability Services. In her spare time, Marcy works as a garden designer.

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