August, 2000
Fun in the sun in a home garden in
Austin, Texas
Container
Creativity
Scorching summer rays and
fickle rain clouds make planting in the ground risky at this time in Texas,
but any day is a good day to make a container garden. Look through
your back closets, a thrift shop or even your garbage bin for some interesting
containers to perk up your landscape. Create a riot of coleus and
ivy in a birdcage, put colorful annuals in chip bags or let a tipsy bean
pot spill succulents into a flower bed.
Many times a wonderful container
is found, but it doesn't have drainage holes. These can be lovely
cache pots or you can hold your breath and carefully drill a hole in a
china serving bowl, but careful plant selection and siting can make this
unnecessary. The answer to the drainage problem is, surprisingly,
succulent plants! Succulents can be watered with very small amounts
of water that will be taken up by the plant or evaporate before the lower
levels of the container become saturated. One caution, though, be
sure these drainless delights are located where the gardener has TOTAL
CONTROL - be sure that rain or a wayward sprinkler won't water these containers!
Many drainless containers offer other options. Find a charming tea
pot, fill it to the bottom of the spout with coarse gravel, then top with
potting soil and plant away. After watering your garden, simply pour
the excess water out the spout!
Some interesting containers
that will take a lot of water are heavy foil type chip bags. Drainage
holes can be punched in the lower portion of the bag, gravel used to fill
about 1/2 of the bag, then add potting mix and seasonal plants. The
gravel serves two purposes - it will help drainage and weight the bag so
it will stand upright. These unusual containers will last a summer
and make cute table decorations. Add a bit of whimsy to your garden
with unusual containers!
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