Garden Detective

AngelMist® Basket Pink Angelonia. Sometimes called “angel flower” or “summer snapdragon,” loves full sun and thrives in well-drained soil. The frothy blooms, set amidst spike-like leaves, perform all summer long and look great in containers. Plant in full sun. Grows 6 to 10 inches tall, spreads 16 to 20 inches.

I'm hearing a lot about container gardening these past few weeks, and not just because the outdoor gardening season is underway. It seems it's a hot, new trend. And not just for geraniums, either. More and more people, whether they're cramped for space or not, are turning to containers for everything from annuals to ornamental grasses to climbing vines to vegetables.

While containers certainly can spruce up a porch or patio, they also can ready a deck for entertaining and make a dramatic impact on curb appeal.

My recent favorite container is the EarthBox. Though I'll never give up my small vegetable patch, I've developed an affinity for trellised tomatoes on the deck outside my kitchen door. They never need weeding, get just the right amount of fertilizer, and watering is never a concern. Plus, it's a cool conversation piece.

Another favorite edible I prefer to grow in containers is mint. I'm a big fan of the summertime Mojito -- that refreshing blend of simple syrup, seltzer, rum and fresh mint leaves. The problem with mint, though, is that if you plant it in the ground it takes over the garden. Last year, I tried burying a pot planted with mint in the garden, hoping to contain it. No such luck. The invasive herb not only found its way out, it survived the winter and has now begun creeping up throughout a twenty-foot area.

Live Wire Isolepis Fire Optic, a new grass available this spring, which starts out growing upright, then drapes as it matures. Plant in a sunny to partly sunny location, performs well in wet conditions. Grows 6 to 8 inches tall, with an 18-20 inch spread.

In the past, the most commonly seen ready-to-purchase potted arrangement consisted of geraniums or petunias planted around a spike of one sort or another with maybe some trailing ivy mixed in. I've seen enough potted black and deep purple ornamental grasses combined with colorful annuals in garden centers this year to rival the status quo. And why not? Pretty much anything goes in containers, and you're limited only by your creativity.

Just a couple of tips to keep in mind for successful containers:

When selecting plants, be sure to consider their sunlight and water requirements and only group simpatico plants together.

While some of your garden-planted annuals and perennials might survive nicely on rain water alone, contained plants will not. Remember to water often -- even twice a day during the height of summer. And remember that clay pots, which are porous, will dry out faster than their plastic counterparts. Likewise, small containers will require more frequent watering.