Over the last many years I have gone on quite a few Garden Club tours and on Audubon tours. I have also tried to take my camera along so I could remember what I saw. I also like to copy ideas!!! There have been all sizes of yards from the very small ones to acreages. Very seldom do I miss finding one or many container gardens. I think the smallest was a pair of old boots with holes in the toes for drainage. The garden was HEN AND CHICKENS (Sempervivum species), living not just on top but all down the front of the unlaced boots. In addition to the hole in the toe, the boots were filled with a sandy mix as "hens" can't stand wet feet. HEN AND CHICKENS are pass along plants as the original plant blooms and dies it produces many little chicks hugging its edge. There are a number of varieties of these hens all of whom do well in a bowl type container with good drainage. I have seen these bowls where the owners developed them into various scenes with rocks and figures. I suspect that these shallow containers either come inside during the winter or into a garage or shed to keep their roots from freezing solid. I have several that live in the garage almost without water all winter. You may have noticed I have a 2 car garage that very seldom has a car in it. I do try to have just enough space during snow storms or hail to run out and give the car shelter.
One of the largest containers I have in my slide collection also contains "hens". It was a large full sized barrel (not cut in half). Holes had been cut out all around the sides and filled with chicks. It is hard to get water down the sides so a fairly good sized pipe was planted in the center full of drilled holes. The barrel sat near a door under the overhang so watering was controlled from the pipe. Filled with gravely soil, this certainly would not blow away!!! The chicks hung down the sides as they remain attached to the hen.
Several times I noticed a huge cup and saucer with a planting in it. Usually it is on a table in the shade where the owners might have breakfast. As with any small container it is very easy to either under or over water.
Small plants are not as demanding as large ones.
Chairs are another favorite subject and even include rockers with a potted plant resting in the seat. Other chairs have lost the center seat part and hold a pot that just fits, filled with short annuals. One had a dainty vine that climbed the back and drooped over. These containers were usually backed by a shrub or under a tree for shade plants. Some chairs were painted to match the blooms adding even more color to a small space.
I have any number of slides of wheel barrows in various conditions that have small gardens inside. They are deep enough when filled with potting soil to grow fairly large plants. Several years ago my red one developed several "drainage holes" plus a flat tire. This was not too sad as I painted it red to match some of my other "toys" and wheeled it under the maple tree where plants don't do well due to the massive root system. It took a rock to hold up the front, making the tire look good. Last summer I filled it with mixed impatiens who enjoyed their home. I have a gnome collection so this year I will add compost to the old potting mix, seat a gnome in red impatiens and hope the squirrels don't dig them out.
Among other plants were little wagons containing pots or shallow rooted plants. They aren't as deep as I would like but this winter I acquired a red wagon of my own in good shape so it will need a few drain holes. As yet it is not planted but is under that same maple tree waiting!!! All this potting dooms one to watering quite often. The smaller the container the more often you have to water. Hanging baskets really dry out fast.
By this time you should have the idea that a container is anything you want to use. For decoration you can add your specialty like ceramic pigs or trellis for little vines. It is a good way to get your houseplants out in the rain and the sun. There are a number of beautiful baskets hanging around Lincoln. They tend to rot easily from rain and watering. Their life can be extended by lining with plastic with drain holes. They work very well as hanging containers. I was just given a metal basket that I plan to line with this special liner. It will help keep the soil moist, and keep soil from falling out. I have met a number of people whose gardening consists of nothing but containers. Some are for herbs and others for their only tomato plant.
Container gardens are fun and don't take up much room. Be creative this summer and have a container garden.
Don't worry about grubs
According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension (Horticulture) "WHITE GRUBS" found in vegetable or flower garden beds, or in the lawn at this time of year are overwintering larvae. In spring, they move closer to the soil surface to pupate into adult beetles. White grubs found during spring do not cause plant damage. Applying insecticides to kill this generation of grubs (larvae) or masked chafers, Japanese beetles, or even May/June bugs is not justified." (From UNL Extension Hort Update for the week of May 26, 2008) Copyright 2008
