JUST BECAUSE you do not live in a house that has a big yard does not mean you have to stick your green thumb in your pocket and forget it. By Ron Gasbarro Contributing Writer Gardening in containers is the logical solution, paticularly for those who only have a deck, roof- top or balcony on which to till the soil. All you need is a couple big bags of potting soil — and some interesting-looking cans, clay pots or bric-a-brac. Container gardens test your creativity, says one apartment dweller who has approximately 200 plants hanging, sitting and climbing around his third-storey back deck. Not only can plants sit on the deck or balcony floors, hanging baskets can drape from fences or the edges of the balcony. Balcony gardening is relaxing and can be considered true gardening even if it is done on the 10th floor. Mobility is a feature of con- tainer gardens, first and foremost. If something dies, you can replace it quickly with something else. Ifa plant is not doing well in one spot, you can switch it to a sun- hier. or shadier location. “When: planning a container garden, remember the ground rules. All containers need either drainage holes on the bottom or a one-inch layer of pebbles. under __the soil... “= ‘. In terms of the dirt itself, go to a garden centre and ask for a commeicial soil mix. Such a-pro- duct is lighter and cleaner than the soil dug from the ground and it contains various nutrients that will promote good growth. For example, one soil mix con- tains peat moss, sedge pest, ver- _miculite,. a special wetting agent and limestone that holds air’ and moisture at exactly the right level | Brighten yi for most plants. Heavy soil will make it hard for the potted plant to. stretch its roots and results in an unhappy, if not dead, plant. Stually any plant that grows in a conventional grounded garden will thrive successfully in a con- tainer. Annual flowers in par- ticular do well because they do not require deep soil. if your area is sunhy, try gera- niums, pansies, petunias, marigolds, snapdragons or daisies. Dianthus and black-eyed susans, while not annuals, will also pro- duce blooms while potted. Just remember to protect their roots from cold winds during the winter if you want them to return the following spring. If you have a lot of shade, take a crack at ferns, impatiens in- cluding the New Guinea variety. begonias or blue salvia. ~ For a wall of color rig up a trellis alongside a planter and you can. train clematis or morning glories as well as pole beans. Hungry for fresh produce? A container garden can turn you in- to a regular Farmer Brown; pep- pers, tomatoes, many types of squash, peas and beans can be grown in containers. Herb gardens allow you to have both variety and a handy supply of the freshest ingredients for your summer cooking. Basil, sage, oregano, marjoram, mint, thyme, parsley and summer savory are among the more popular herbs you can grow in a container. Tending to your deck or roof- top container garden can take as much or as little time each day as you like. A few pointers that will make your container, garden an = im- pressive sight to your friends in- clude: @ Rotating the planters often so that growth is uniform. Put plants in. the sun each morning, then move them close to the house in the evening so you can enjoy them. ur home Year Pour... with a skylight (not exactly as shown) x Summer Special * 2x4 “Heat Barrier” with reflective glass $185 +GST Add. opener + $126 +GST .Keeps heat and harmful UV OUT, but lets the light IN. Offer ends July 31 '93. UN ee res() yz, NORTH SHORE AUTO GLASS | 407 Mountain Highway § ¥ © opening skylights also availabie at competitive prices * save money — do it yourself Ltd. North Vancouver, B.C. 980-7511 Oi The glass specialists — serving the North Shore for over 20 years decks and patios ® Fertilize at least every three weeks with a commercial plant food at least to replenish neces- sary nutrients. @ Water generously and during the evening hours only. Soil con- fined to containers tends ta dry owt faster and become hotter than soil at the cooler ground level. Clay pots, in particular, can Powder-coated steel patio base model K30 3 Recommended for new wood. | Oi STAIN ad i - a > "PACIFIC GAS SPECIALTIES become parched on especially hot days. Keep an eye on those, or shade them. @ Place containers that hold flowering annuals together for a fuller look. @ Pinch off faded blooms daily, if possible, to encourage the plant to bloom regularly, « Permanent mold aluminum top, bottom & base castings © HighTemp baked.on enamel paint * Heatresistant phenolic side handles . ® Chrome plated utility rack © Heavy duty commercial grade stainless steel side shelves * All-aluminum side shelf brackets * Stainless steel fasteners -* Heaw duty porcelainized steel Vari-Grids * Pre-formed ceramic Fiare- Guard Radiant Rock * Flare-Guard grates * Continuous spark Sure Start electronic ignition * Stainless steel Coo! Touch control panel »* Solid brass control vaives * One-piece pedestal design” (stainless or powder coated » steel) ; “ * Quick Disconnect Saiety Couplers for portable units = LEN = Ninel to Distributed by the Times Syndicate. 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