Caring for a Lemon Tree in a Container
Moving a lemon tree outdoors can change its light far more than the move appears to a person. Start in a sheltered bright position and increase exposure gradually.
GROW YOUR OWN WAY
Container Gardening.
Make room to grow with thoughtfully chosen pots, well drained mixes and manageable planting.
Growing a Bay Tree in a Patio Pot
A bay tree shaped as a small standard can become unstable when the mix is dry or the canopy catches wind.
Choosing a Planter for Dwarf Lavender
Lavender benefits from leaving its woody base visible and airy. Avoid filling the container rim with a dense wet mulch that touches the crown.
Growing Geraniums in a Sunny Pot
Pelargonium flower heads should be removed by following the spent stalk back to its connection instead of pulling on surrounding leaves.
Planting Petunias Without Crowding the Basket
A petunia basket can look sparse at planting and still fill properly. Use the spread of the named variety as the guide.
Growing Begonias in a Sheltered Container
Begonia names cover plants with different habits. Check whether the purchase is a wax, tuberous or cane type before deciding on winter treatment or full sun exposure.
Filling a Shaded Pot With Impatiens
Impatiens that wilt in a warm afternoon may recover as temperatures ease, but this should be checked against actual root moisture.
Growing Coleus for Color in a Patio Pot
Coleus can be shaped while the stems are soft. Pinch above a leaf pair and let side shoots develop before taking another substantial cut.
Planting Dwarf Dahlias in Containers
Dahlia buds are rounder than many spent flower heads, so look closely before removing growth. Follow a fading flower stalk back to an appropriate leaf junction.
Growing Nasturtiums in a Patio Pot
A nasturtium grown for a trailing display needs somewhere safe for its stems to go. Guide growth away from steps and do not let the pot become a walkway obstacle.
Growing Calendula in a Container
Calendula often responds to mild seasonal conditions rather than heavy feeding. If flowering slows during intense heat, maintain sensible moisture and assess the next cooler period.
Growing Sweet Alyssum Around a Planter Edge
Sweet alyssum can form a dense mat over the rim. Lift a section gently when checking the mix so that a dry surface is not missed beneath the flowers.
Growing Dwarf Sunflowers in Pots
Choose dwarf sunflowers by the named expected height and branching habit. A short single stem variety and a branching variety fill a pot differently.
Choosing a Safe Balcony Planter Position
Before filling a balcony planter, confirm where every drop of drainage will go and whether the building permits the proposed container and support.
Preventing a Black Pot From Overheating
Shade the wall of an overheating pot without automatically shading all the plant foliage. A ventilated outer screen or a different position may reduce root heat while retaining useful sun.
Watering a Hanging Basket Evenly
A hanging basket should be checked at a safe height. If it cannot be reached comfortably, arrange a suitable lowering system or a different hook position before planting.
Rewetting Potting Mix After It Dries Hard
When water runs down the side of a dry pot, rewet the root ball gradually and confirm that moisture reached the center.
Repotting a Rootbound Patio Plant
Confirm root crowding before repotting, choose a modest increase in pot size and check moisture inside the old root ball afterward.