Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 14 5/24/17 10:52 AM
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 15 5/24/17 10:52 AM

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700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 14 5/24/17 1:07 PM

15

chapter 1

Getting

Started

The best thing about container gardening is that

anyone can do it. You don’t need a lot of space,

money, or time to grow a few containers filled with

gorgeous plants. All you really need is the desire

to grow something, a little inspiration, a touch

of creativity, and a couple of bucks (and heck, if

you’re willing to get really creative, you can even

cross that last one off the list). All the information

you need to grow flowers, vegetables, fruits, herbs,

and more is right here at your fingertips, in this

book. For newbies, container gardening is a great

way to jump into the world of gardening without

needing a plot of land. Or, for more experienced

gardeners, it’s an excellent way to take your

existing outdoor living space to the next level,

without having to invest a significant amount

of time or money. If you put a little effort into

planning your container garden before you get

started, the payoff will extend way beyond growing

a few pretty plants.

By carefully considering what you’re going

to grow and how you’re going to grow it, you’ll

be able to harvest your own fresh, homegrown

produce month after month, or enjoy the season-

long color of ornamental flower- and foliage-filled

containers while providing habitat for butterflies,

bees, hummingbirds, and lots of other living

creatures. There are many benefits of growing in

containers, but to reap those benefits, you have to

start with the basics, which brings us to the topic

of this chapter: getting started.

THE THREE PILLARS

OF SUCCESSFUL

CONTAINER GARDENING

Whether you’re growing edible plants, evergreen

shrubs, or flowering tropicals in your container

garden, good planning is essential. The first

step in growing a successful container garden is

putting some careful consideration into building

a good foundation for your plants. Many failed

container gardens are the result of poor planning

and not understanding the importance of setting

your plants up for success right from the very

beginning. As gardeners, we get so jazzed for

the actual planting process that we sometimes

forget all the important details that need to

be in place before we even think about sowing

a single seed. We love traipsing through the

garden center picking out the prettiest plants

It doesn’t take much room to grow a container

garden if you spend some time planning before you

get started. Even a small window ledge will do.

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