Gardenzilla (www.gardenzilla.com) Presents The Basics of Container Gardening

Planting and caring for a garden can be a big under taking. However it is possible to have a beautiful garden even if you donÕt have the time or landscape space by using containers.

Container gardening is convenient and can create a stunning presentation regardless if you are in a big commercial setting or on a tiny patio in a downtown loft. Using GardenzillaÕs wide variety of containers is a great way for a beginner to plant their roots in gardening or for a professional to incorporate design into their landscape.

Before you begin, consider some basic techniques including making an appropriate potting soil or planter mix, and preparing your plants as well as simple instructions for planting, repotting, watering and fertilizing. Minimal steps and directions make this a fun and easy process.

Want to begin your container garden? Follow these rules from Gardenzilla:

• Potting Mixes: Soil is, surprisingly, not a big ingredient in potting mixes. Garden soil can be full of pests and diseases and is easily compacted therefore making it a poor choice for container gardening. Light and permeable mixes are the foundation of every successful container garden. A perfect mixture will drain easily, maintain airflow, and retain moisture. Following are the steps for making different kinds of potting mixes.

• Basic Mix:
1. Blend equal parts of peat moss, compost, and perlite (a white volcanic material that retains water and nutrients which will prevent the mix from becoming too compressed)

2. Add just enough water to moisten the soil and mix together until all the ingredients are well blended.

3. One tablespoon of granular limestone should be added to each gallon of the soil mixture.

Dry Climate Plants: Combine one part basic mix, one part compost, and two parts sand. Follow steps two and three from Basic mix.

Acid-Loving Plants: Merge equal parts basic mix, peat moss and shredded bark. Follow steps two and three from Basic mix.

Shade-Loving Plants: Mix two parts basic mix, one part vermiculite, and one part peat moss. Follow steps two and three from Basic mix.

• Preparing Plants for Potting: The same rules apply for potting regardless of the type of plant youÕre working with. The roots of the plants are the most important thing to take into consideration when potting a plant. It is important for the roots to extend freely in all directions; if they are too compacted it may be necessary to cut the roots allowing them to spread out in their new pots. Spring and early summer are the best times to plant and repot. Here are four easy steps to prepare your plants for potting: 1. Turn over the nursery or current container and support the roots while removing the plant. Do not pull the plant out by the stem, this can easily cause breakage. 2. If the plant is difficult to remove from its current container either tap the border against a hard surface or cautiously cut away the urn. 3. Using your hands, pull the roots to loosen them. Cut off any excess long or spiraled roots. 4. Make one inch cuts on all four sides of the ball of roots to loosen tightly packed roots.

• Planting: Leave at least an inch of dirt separating your plants from the edge of the pot so the roots have plenty of room to expand. Having too much soil will result in an excess of water retention causing the roots to rot. When you are combining different sized plants, first add the plant with the largest root system. Water the plant to allow it to settle into the container before adding the remaining plants. Here are four easy planting steps: 1. Fill your container with a moist potting mix. Poke small holes in the soil allowing it to settle before adding the plants. 2. Position the plant so it settles as the same level as it was in the nursery or previous container. 3. Arrange plants close together and carefully pack the dirt around the roots to avoid any air pockets. 4. Leave a minimum of a one-inch space below the edge of the pot for watering in small pots and at least two inches in larger pots.

• Repotting: Plants may need to be repotted as often as once a year depending on root growth. Roots filling the entire pot or growing above the soil are a good indication it is time to repot. Even if a plant does not need to be repotted it can benefit from a yearly top dressing. Remove the top two inches of soil and replace it with fresh soil being careful not to disturb the roots. Here are four easy steps for repotting: 1. Repot plants every one to two years. 2. The new container should be, at the most, two inches wider than the previous pot. 3. Trim one to two inches off the roots before replanting. Make sure to clean any sodium residue off of the new pot before planting. 4. Set the plant on a new layer of soil and fill in the gaps with the old soil.

• Watering and Fertilizing: Weather is the main deterrent in how much water your plants will need. If it is cool and moist outside you will not have to water as often as when it is windy or extremely warm. In some conditions it may be necessary to water at two times a day. Early in the morning is the best time to water plants. If you water too late in the afternoon the soil may not properly dry out leaving the roots sitting in water overnight. It is best to put the water directly onto the soil not over the foliage. The size and type of container and the variety of potting mix will also determine how often you need to water. Small pots will dry out faster than large ones and unglazed clay pots lose water more quickly than glazed pots and those made of nonporous materials. Additionally plants need frequent fertilizing to maintain rapid and healthy growth. Here are six important steps to keep in mind when watering and fertilizing your potted plants: 1. Stick your finger in the top two inches of the soil to test for enough water. When the soil feels dry, it is time to add more water. 2. Use an aluminum wand when watering with a hose. Gently rinse the foliage to increase the humidity. 3. When applying fertilizer, sprinkle it evenly over the soil and well away from the stems of the plants. Be especially careful not to let fertilizer get stuck in the foliage. 4. Automated watering systems are a good way to go when you can not be there every day to water your plants. 5. Water and fertilizer can discolor and corrode the surfaces underneath your pots, so it is important to have a barrier, such as a saucer for smaller pots, between your pot and the surface it is sitting on. 6. Many plants like moist roots and dry leaves. To bottom water, set pots in a shallow tub of lukewarm water for 30 to 60 minutes; drain well. Gardenzilla, a Bainbridge Island, Washington based company, is an on-line source (www.gardenzilla.com) for sizeable urns, planters, sculpture, fountains and art for the garden. Gardenzilla provides a myriad of unique pots and urns, with designs from all over the world, that work perfectly for container gardening or for creating unique interior urns and centerpieces. At Gardenzilla, the goal is to provide products that everyone can use whether a professional landscaper, an interior designer, an architect or an enthusiastic gardener. Gardenzilla prides itself in supplying beautiful products at great prices, while delivering on time and giving personal attention to each and every customer. Based on Bainbridge Island, Washington, the products can be purchased on-line at www.gardenzilla.com. An on-line catalog, a collection of indoor and outdoor urns, and all designs, sizes, colors and finishes can be viewed on the web site. Gardenzilla provides exceptional customer service and it is important our customers are completely satisfied with their orders. For questions about products or purchases, call (877)977-8774 Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time or go to "contact us" on the Gardenzilla web site.

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