Annual flowers grow well in crowded, colorful plantings.
Whether you're planting vegetables, fruits, vining plants, perennials or annual flowers, you must consider location, drainage, soil and space. Planting in a large, decorative pot or barrel adds interest and texture to the garden, and can make planting on the patio a possibility, but comes with its own set of complications. Make sure that your barrel offers space and drainage, and give the plants a rich, moist planting foundation; then plant according to your personal preferences. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Drill two to three holes in the bottom of the barrel to guarantee drainage through the soil. Drill several holes in the sides of the barrel, at random intervals, to encourage air circulation for root health.
2. Start your planting process in spring, when the air warms, to follow the calendars of most vegetables and flowers. Put the barrel in a site where it gets full sun all day, to satisfy the light requirements for more vegetables, fruits and flowering plants.
3. Mix quick-draining potting soil and organic compost in equal amounts for your potting soil. Don't use garden soil, as it may contain weeds, diseases and pests. Add 5-10-5 fertilizer to the mix to boost the nutrition. The plants in the barrel will grow in an isolated situation, with no access to secondary soil sources, so need rich, nutritious soil from the start. The compost in the soil will help maintain soil moisture, so that the plants don't dry as quickly. Fill the barrel to within two inches of its rim with this soil mixture.
4. Plant your barrel according to preference and space. Plant one large bush like a rose, hydrangea or azalea, or several vegetables, bulb perennials, annual flowers or vining plants. Design any planting with the plants' individual spacing requirements in mind.
5. Water the barrel with one gallon of water to start, and put it on a schedule of weekly waterings. Run the hose in the barrel for 10 to 20 minutes once a week to keep the top five to 10 inches of soil consistently moist.
6. Feed the plants at least once during their growing season, and more often depending on the specific plant needs. Soil nutrition in the barrel will run out more quickly than it would in the outdoor garden, to the detriment of the plants, so don't short the planter when it comes to compost or fertilizer.
Tags: barrel will, perennials annual, perennials annual flowers, potting soil, vegetables fruits