Container Gardening Tips – Mixing Soil and Planting

Once the gardener has the image of the containers and plants planned it is time to prepare the soil canvas. Always use a good quality potting mix in containers to ensure best possible performance and growth.

For best results mix and plan the potting soil composition before buying plants. Unless a very specific plant specimen is planned a general potting mix will work for all the plants.

Having the potting mix ready for the new plants will make the task easier and less stressful than trying to mix soil and get plants into their new home all at the same time. Do not use regular soil in containers as the soil is likely to compact and harden, making it difficult for plants to grow. Instead use a potting soil which can either be purchased in ready mix bags or the gardener can create their own mix.

Here is a general mixture that will work well for all but special plant requirements:

Mix 1 part good quality peat moss with 5 parts of compost, organic or gardener preferred, the choice is the gardeners. The gardener can use a scoop, trowel or old coffee can, whatever is available to measure the parts. Adding 1 part perlite will also keep soil from compacting during the growing season, ensuring roots can grow and spread.

Plan Twice, Plant Once!

Review the idea, sketches or plans for the container garden. Place containers in groupings of odd numbers for a more attractive grouping. Mix sizes and shapes until the actual placement makes the pleasing and visual statement that was planned.

Before filling pots make sure this is the arrangement that is desired. It is easier to move empty containers than ones filled with dirt and plants. When the arrangement is ready, fill the pots leaving about one inch from the top with this mixture. It is now time to arrange and place the plants.

Place the potted plants in the containers, arranging the plants by potential heights, types or however the garden plan intended. Now is the time to do any potential rearranging or changes. Once the placement is ready beginning dig holes, removing the soil to an empty bucket.

Place bulbs, plants root balls or seeds to the desired depth for the particular plant. Add back in any removed soil to cover the plants and fill the pots back to one-half to an inch below the planter rim.

Additional Tips

Depending on the plants, extra feeding is usually a good idea. Use nitrogen feedings from fish-emulsions or liquid plant food such as Miracle Grow or make a Compost Tea.

When replanting pots with annuals, dump the old soil mixture out of the pot, chop up the old soil and roots. Mix in about 25% of a new potting mixture and reuse the refreshed mixture.

For best pot drainage fill pots with several inches of gravel, broken pot pieces, gravel or pebbles. This not only helps drainage but helps fill large pots without using large quantities of potting soil.

When using very large planters use bricks, blocks or Styrofoam peanuts to save soil.

Small pots placed around patios or outside kitchen windows are ideal for growing herb gardens. There is nothing like fresh basil, parsley, oregano, sage and chives or other favorites of the gardener and cook.