beginner's corner
Weather Considerations
Container plants have a big advantage over their
garden bed brothers. They’re portable, which is
convenient when conditions get too hot or too cold.
DO take materials and finishes
into consideration.
Choose an insulated container if you plan to place
a plant in an area where weather extremes may
cause problems. When it’s hot and dry, water
porous containers frequently. Prefer light colored
containers for warm or hot locations and dark
containers for cool locations.
DO consider moving your
containers around.
If your patio is sunny and warm in May but
roasting by August, you can turn your plants
into commuters by moving them from the
patio to a dappled or shady location during
high summer. This maximizes their
visibility and saves you from having to
water them as often.
DON’T abandon your pots
during windy weather.
Secure and protect potted plants
during windstorms and heavy rains.
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grow cycle
DO consider parking container
plants indoors in winter.
If you maintain tender perennials that won’t
tolerate a hard freeze, instead of sacrificing
them, consider bringing them inside during
the winter months. If you can provide six
hours of bright light, you can maintain
many plant varieties indoors until spring.
If your hardy perennials are in pots, put
them in the ground—pots and all—
for added winter protection.
DON’T forget fall
container management.
An empty pot or gardening container is a
sad sight, but don’t ignore it until spring.
Some container materials, like unglazed
ceramics, are vulnerable to cracking
when exposed to freezing weather.
Clean, sterilize, and store unoccupied
garden containers in a dry, protected
location over the winter months.
Many plants thrive when “potted
out,” but understanding how
to establish and maintain a
container garden will help you
create a more consistent and
nurturing environment for your
plants over the long term.