This site is best viewed using Mozilla Firefox browser.

Furniture

2005-04-01 10:50:00

Low maintenance gardening tips?

: My husband and I are attempting to design landscaping for our very small yard and patio area. My husband's idea of landscaping is adding a maintenance free pink flamingo…can you give me some low maintenance gardening tips?

ANSWER:  The plastic pink flamingo is an American icon that will never go away! This recognized piece of lawn art began in 1957 and is still going strong today. Thousands of yards across the country still proudly display the pink flamingo…despite neighbor's (and wives) ill wishes, they seem to last forever. It takes a special kind of person to tuck a bright plastic pink flamingo into their landscape. Thank goodness, not many have what it takes. There will always be someone out there whose idea of beauty is a pink plastic bird standing among their red petunias…just hope that it's someone else's husband! For the second part of your question concerning limited space for your gardening desires, a patio, deck, balcony, or doorstep can provide enough space for a productive, attractive garden display. Many find container gardening to be a solution to space and time. Each gardener is unique and has his or her own particular circumstances. They may be:• a need for easy access due to disability • gardeners with problem soil • homeowners with little or no land • elderly with limited mobility • apartment/condominium dwellers • plant lovers who just can't get enough   of nature While space (or lack of it) is an obvious reason to try container gardening, that is not the only reason people choose this method. Often, convenience plays a big part. The mobility of container gardening makes it easy to rearrange your garden and to add new elements of interest and beauty. For busy two-worker families who don't have time to garden on a large scale, a number of well-placed pots on the deck often can do the trick. Also, smaller spaces result in smaller costs. Initial set-up costs may be a little more, but once the appropriate containers and materials are purchased, costs are minimal. You will be buying fewer plants and less fertilizer than for traditional gardening. Time-release fertilizer and automatic watering systems can reduce that time even more.What you'll need:ContainersContainers are available in many sizes, shapes, and materials. All containers, whether clay, wood, plastic, or ceramic should have an adequate number of holes in the bottom for proper drainage. Additional holes should be drilled or punched in containers that do not drain quickly after each watering. Setting the container on a solid surface, such as a cement or patio floor, reduces drainage. Raising the container one or two inches off the floor by setting it on blocks of wood will solve this problem. The container's size should be determined by the type of plant selected. Generally, most plants grown in the soil can be grown in containers as long as ample space is provided for them to develop roots. A fairly lightweight mix of potting soil is needed for container gardening. Soil straight from the garden is not recommended for use in a container because it is too heavy, unless your garden has sandy loam or sandy soil. Clay soil consists of extremely small (microscopic) particles. In a container, the bad qualities of clay are exaggerated. It holds too much moisture when wet, resulting in too little air for the roots. Also, it pulls away from the sides of the pot when dry. Potting soil mixture must be porous in order to support plants, because roots require both air and water. Packaged potting soil is relatively lightweight and may make a good container medium.Fertilize plants with the recommended rate of a water-soluble fertilizer every two to three weeks. An occasional application of fish emulsion or compost will add trace elements to the soil. Do not add more than the recommended rate of any fertilizer. Doing so may cause fertilizer burn and kill your plants. Unlike garden plants, container plants do not have the buffer of large volumes of soil and humus to protect them from over-fertilizing or over-liming.Pay particular attention to watering container plants. Because the volume of soil is relatively small, containers can dry out very quickly, especially if they are on a concrete patio in full sunlight. Daily or twice-daily watering may be necessary. Apply water until it runs out the drainage holes. Water clay pots and other porous containers more frequently, as they allow additional evaporation for the sides of the pots. Small pots also tend to dry out more quickly than larger ones. If the soil appears to be getting excessively dry (plants wilting every day is one sign), group the containers together so that the foliage creates a canopy to help shade the soil and keep it cool. Check containers at least once a day and twice on hot, dry, or windy days. Feel the soil to determine whether it is damp. Mulching and windbreaks can help reduce water requirements for containers. Consider installing an automatic trickle irrigation system if you plan to be away for extended periods.Plant container specimens at the same time you would plant them in a regular garden or flower bed. Fill a clean container to within 2 inch of the top with a slightly damp soil mixture. Peat moss in the mix will absorb water and blend much more readily if soaked with warm water before the mix is put into the container. Sow the seed or set transplants according to instructions on the seed package or plant tag. Put a label with the name, variety, and planting date in each container. After planting, gently soak the soil with water, being careful not to wash out or displace seeds. Thin out seedlings to obtain proper spacing when the plants have two or three leaves. If cages, stakes, or other supports are needed, provide them when the plants are very small to avoid later root damage.Use several varieties of flowers and foliages in combinations of color and texture. Design the container plantings for shade or sun, combining only those flowers that have similar cultural requirements. Plant too much rather than too little. Err on the side of extra plants for a lush, full effect. But to compensate for extra plants, fertilize and water properly. Apply a slow-release fertilizer for summer-long feeding, and water abundantly throughout the summer.