Try Containers To Avoid Hassle Of Weeding

What is public enemy number one to both the avid and not-so-avid gardener? WEEDS. They invade our flower beds, our vegetable gardens, our shrubs, sidewalks, driveways and sometimes even our dreams. They are the principal cause of aching backs, aching knees, sore hands and grumpy dispositions. If you’ve given up raising fresh vegetables and gorgeous posies because of these unwanted invaders, then how about giving this a try: container gardening.

Just think of it. You can grow all kinds of delicious vegetables, herbs and flowers in pots. All it takes is imagination and a renewed spirit.

Begin by deciding what plants you want to grow and where. Do you want spot color throughout the shrub bed? On the fence? On the porch? Do you like herbs? Vegetables? Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

We need to collect pots - the bigger the better - especially for mass flowers and vegetables. Large pots hold more soil, which in turn holds more nutrients, water and roots. Whiskey barrels, metal tubs, horse troughs, old tires, wood planters - round, square, tall, short - anything that holds soil and has holes for drainage will work. Small pots work fine for small displays. Collect decorative tins. Punch holes in the bottoms and grow a gallery of herbs on the windowsill, balcony or deck.

Pots brimming with cascading petunias and lobelia can soften any fence or building. Fashion a clothes hanger into the shape of a circle. Drop the pot into it and attach the hanger to the fence.

Whichever pot you choose, fill it with potting soil, not garden soil.

Garden soil compacts too easily. Plant roots must have room to grow and breathe. If the pots are too deep, fill them halfway with pine cones or Styrofoam peanuts. Lay a piece of cheesecloth, woven weed barrier or a few coffee filters over the top of the “fill” to keep the soil from moving through. This fabric material can also be used in the bottom of smaller pots to keep the soil from moving through the drain holes.

For a little added bonus, mix a few handfuls of moistened polymers into the soil. Roots will work their way into the polymers, which will supply the roots with moisture up to two weeks. You won’t have to water as often.

Now plant. Sun-loving flowers for sunny areas and shade-loving plants for shady areas. If the sun lovers seem to wilt no matter how much water they receive, perhaps the soil is too hot. In that case, simply double pot them. Plant the flowers or veggies in an old pot and drop it into your larger decorative pot. Stuff dampened sphagnum moss in between the two pots and voila, an insulated pot. As for vegetables, just about any vegetable can be raised in a container, except perhaps the big viney fellows - squash and pumpkins. Many vegetable varieties can be found in miniature form. Shepherd’s Seeds carries a large selection of these mini-veggies.

Be creative. Fill a low, wide papiermache pot full of flowers. Nestle it into the soil of the shrub bed. Instant color without weeds. Set a pot of flowers or veggies on an old stump or group pots in old apple crates or …. The potential for beauty and creativity is endless. Wonderful color, delicious food, no aches and pains and best of all, no weeds.

Gardening is so gratifying and rewarding. There is no reason why anyone should ever have to give it up. If you, or a special friend of yours, is hindered from gardening for any reason - be it wheelchair confinement, advanced age or just plain backache - then there is a special event planned just for you. On April 22, the Friends of Manito and St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute will present a daylong program filled with how-to’s. Learn more about container gardens and adaptive tools. Learn how you can garden for life. There is a $5 registration fee payable by April 17. Please contact St. Luke’s at 838-7274 for more information.