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Choosing a container When your grandmother went shopping for a container, she probably found only terra cotta or concrete pots. Today you’ll also find containers of all sizes made from composite materials which are lightweight and can look like terra cotta or concrete. There are wooden half-barrels, hay racks, plastic containers and beautiful glazed pottery in all colors.
Any size pot will do, but if you want less maintenance, large pots are better. Large containers hold more soil so the plants won’t need to be watered as often. More soil also means plants will grow a bigger root system and be healthier. Garden soil is too heavy for containers. It impairs drainage and air circulation, and may introduce soil-borne diseases, weeds and pests. Instead, use a good, light potting medium. Potting soil is formulated to have a good ratio of water-holding capacity and air space. To save yourself time later, choose one that contains slow-release fertilizer and moisture-retaining additives.
What to plant This is a matter of personal taste, but there are a few guidelines to ensure a pleasing result. Include plants of different heights, colors and textures. Look at the plant tags to find out how tall they will grow. Remember that plants taller than one and one-half times the height of the container may look unbalanced. Garden designers will tell you that containers look best with only three colors of flowers, but a large pot will look fine with more than that. It’s really up to what you like. For different textures, pair fine and broad leaves, or fuzzy with shiny for contrast. Plants can be spaced very close to each other in containers. In a large pot, you could plant nine to 12 plants, depending on how much they will spread. Put taller ones in the center and trailing ones at the edge.
And lastly, don’t forget a bit of whimsy -- look for a fun accessory, like a ceramic bird or stone turtle, to add a unique touch. Food and water Fertilizer is essential for having the best possible container plants. The easiest way to provide fertilizer to your plants is to incorporate a slow-release fertilizer into the soil when you fill your pot if the potting mix does not already contain it. As your plants get larger, you should augment the slow-release fertilizer, like Dynamite, with regular applications of a water-soluble fertilizer once a week to keep the flowers growing. While watering, pinch off any faded flowers. This not only keeps the container looking good but will encourage the plants to keep producing flowers. If one plant grows so big it overpowers the rest, feel free to trim it with scissors. Also trim off any browning leaves or stems.
One large container on your patio may look beautiful, but a grouping of three or five containers of varying sizes will look even better and will give three-dimensional look to your mini-garden. Smaller containers are perfect for single plants, like sun coleus, that will grow large and bushy by the middle of summer. Put containers where other plants normally won’t grow, like among the exposed roots of a tree. A grouping near an entranceway is a welcoming sight. You can nestle containers of bright annuals among duller plants in the garden for added color. If you’re expecting company, temporarily move some of the pretty containers beside the front door.
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Container gardening is more popular every year. In today’s busy lifestyle, it allows you to enjoy flowers or grow vegetables in a small space without all the “work” associated with gardening. Containers are flexible, and easier to maintain than beds. They bring life and color to balconies, decks and under trees. They can be moved, changed and rotated seasonally.
If you haven’t planted a container before, read on. This beginners’ guide to container gardening will teach you how. (But if you still think this is too much effort, come to Lavalette Nursery and choose a container that’s already planted and ready to go.)
Basically, anything that can hold soil and has a drainage hole can be used as a pot. Explore flea markets and yard sales for ideas, like an antique watering can, an old wash tub, a rusty child’s wagon. Use your imagination -- and add a drainage hole if there isn’t one. Drainage holes should be at least a half-inch in diameter, and larger containers should have more than one.
To prevent soil from seeping out the drain hole, put a coffee filter over it. Then fill the container with potting mix, leaving 1 or 2 inches between the top of the soil and the top of the pot. When putting soil into your pot, just pour it in and do not pat the soil down. Gently water it to settle the soil.
Don’t mix sun-loving plants with those that prefer shade. Read the plant tags to make sure they’re all compatible. The selection of sun-lovers is vast. If your containers will go in the shade, include some traditional “indoor” plants with lower light requirements. For color, add some impatiens around the edge.
Water your pot when the top of the soil is dry to the touch. This will be every day (or twice a day for smaller pots) during the heat of summer. Add water slowly until some water comes out of the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. 
Where to put them