16 - Friday, June 1, 1990 - North Shore News Container gardens add colorful accents with sun-loving annuals CONTAINER GARDENS overflowing with colorful annuals are the perfect decorative accents. Set them on a porch, patio or apartment terrace, or use them to create a colorful welcome at the entryway to your home. All you need are started annuals, a pretty container and a potting mix designed for container garden- ing. The materials are available at any garden center. Container gardens contain red geraniums, purple and white petunias, yellow and orange marigolds, purple lobelia and white sweet alyssum. These are undemanding annual plants that bloom all season long in a sunny location. Other sun-loving annuals for containers are ageratum, cosmos, salvia and zinnias, and your garden centre may offer more. For container gardens in shady spots, try impatiens and tuberous begonias. When creating color combina- tions, adding a little white here and there will make other colors seem even brighter. To arrange started plants in the containers, place the tallest-grow- ing ones in the centre (note mature heights on the tags accompanying each flat of plants) and work down toward the edges with the shortest plants around the outside rim. Hane trailing annuals and vines such as vinea or ground ivy over the sides for an atiractive effect. Whether you use a clay pot, an old coffee can or an antique Chinese porcelain bow], the key elements are ample space and good drainage. Smaller containers — under eight inches in diameter — are suitable for dwarf annuals and other plants that tend to stay small. Any container you use should have a minimum depth of four to five inches to allow enough room for root growth. [ff the container isn’t already provided with drainage holes in the bottom, you may be able to make holes using an electric drill. Otherwise, provide a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot con- sisting of an inch or so of garden sand. Be careful when you water a coniainer that has no drainage holes as it can flood easily. Watering How much and how often you need to water will depend on the size and material of your con- tainer, its location and the weather. A good general rule is to keep the soil just damp to the touch — like a squeezed-out sponge — but never sopping. A large container in a sunny location will probably need to be ScanWest Designs (A a of Soberco Closet Soles & Service) a 25% orf Expires June 18/90 @ CLOSET ORGANIZERS © WIRE BASKET SYSTEMS e MIRROR DOORS Custom Designs to to fit your specific needs ond space. CAit TODAY FOR YOUR FREE watered several times per week in warm, sunny weather. Small con- tainers may need daily watering. When you water, water thoroughly, until excess water runs freely from the drainage hole. If water runs right through and out the bottom, the soil in the con- tainer has probably dried out and shrunken. Immerse the entire con- tainer in water, or let the hose run into it until the soit is soaked through. Feeding Generally speaking, plants in containers need to be fertilized regularly while they are actively growing. When using an enriched potting mix you won't need 10 begin feeding until about four-to- six weeks after planting. Then, stare feeding using a complete fertilizer following the label directions. [f you are using 2 fertilizer intended for regular garden plants, dilute it to half the recommended strength. Designer Hints Containers in full bloom make lovely indoor accents as well. A colorful bow! garden would make a lovely table centerpiece for a special occasion. 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