Thanks to Reg Warden, a guest writer for this interesting article on gardening the modern way.

Organic Container Gardening

Some people are physically unable to do much gardening, either because of age or an existing medical condition which prevents them from doing heavy work. For people who really enjoy gardening this can be hard to accept. This is particularly applicable to gardeners who wish to follow the modern way of Gardening - Organic.

Should you be one of those people who fall into this category it’s quite possible to continue to enjoy your garden from a different perspective. You can still watch and encourage your favourite plants and shrubs to thrive and bloom without having to engage in heavy digging, weeding or using chemical fertilisers or other toxic products.

Obviously there are certain jobs you will not be able to do but you’ll be able to derive a tremendous amount of pleasure and satisfaction in cultivating your plants.

Having accepted there are certain limitations you can adjust to them accordingly. You’ll have to forget about vast expanses of borders and lawns and start thinking on a much smaller scale.

If you are fortunate enough to be fit and well you can still have the pleasure of using containers, which are a boon if you have limited space.

The first items to concentrate on are the variety of plant pots and containers, which come in all sizes. There are now so many wonderful shapes and colours to choose from that many of them are a feature in themselves and will enhance any garden, patio or terrace, no matter what the shape.

Secondly, it’s now possible to buy many shrubs in dwarf varieties and these can look fabulous in the right pots and positions. Azaleas, hydrangeas and rhododendrons lend themselves to most gardens and form glorious splashes of colour down small paths, steps, at each side of a door, on patios or at the top of a driveway. Camellias, too, look wonderful in pots as, of course, do geraniums and begonias, to name but a few. All of these shrubs will not have been grown organically but you can still use organic feeds and mulches to take care of them

Shrubs look, and grow, extremely well in containers in addition to making an excellent focal point in most gardens or patios. Placed with loving care and attention in spaces which display tubs and shrubs to maximum effect they will give months and even years of pleasure.

Shrubs such as viburnum, box, hebe, skimmias, conifers and varieties of holly all give amazing displays along with many other evergreens, such as eunonymus and choisyas. Placed in strategic positions, these shrubs enhance any garden or patio, especially in winter when colour is at a premium. You’ll find that cordyline also creates a distinctive focal point. Organic methods and products can, of course, be used to care for all these displays.

In Spring there is no more beautiful sight than masses of daffodils in pots along with tubs and boxes containing spring flowers such as crocuses, snowdrops, primroses. grape hyacinths and tulips.

In the Summer you might like to dedicate one part of your garden solely to growing roses in tubs which make a lovely focal point. The variety of roses available is amazing and just choosing the species you prefer is a pleasure in itself. Try a tub of roses at each end of a garden bench which creates another colourful display in addition to the glory of their wonderful scent. There is virtually no end to the choice of plants and shrubs you can grow organically in containers, some of which will thrive for years.

It’s now becoming very popular to grow organic vegetables and fruit in containers. It’s easy to do, very attractive and provides fresh food when you require it. We’ll write a further article on growing salads, fruit, vegetables and root crops in containers soon and will post the article on our website.

Inevitably, you will find some weeds growing in your pots but these are negligible in comparison with those growing in borders. Their removal takes only minutes as opposed to the time and labour involved removing weeds from borders.

Your priority for all container grown plants and shrubs is to ensure they are frequently fed, mulched and watered, either first thing in the morning before they catch the sun or in the evening when the sun’s heat has dissipated. It is vital that you give sufficient attention to watering. This used to be quite labour intensive but so many self-watering systems on the market today have taken care of all the hard work, leaving you to sit back and admire your beautiful plants and shrubs. Also the use of organic mulches will mean less watering as the mulches will help to retain moisture at the roots.

Considerable information is available on our website regarding mulching and watering.

Container gardening is extremely therapeutic as well as being a marvellous substitute for anyone who can no longer engage in heavy work. You’ll be astonished at the satisfaction and rewards cultivating plants in tubs can bring. Please don’t dismiss this form of gardening as “second best”. Treated with enthusiasm, knowledge and care, container gardening becomes a satisfying, complete hobby in itself. Try it! You’ll find I’m not wrong.

Finally, don’t forget that planting additional small flowers such as pansies etc around the rim of a larger tub, filled with another plant or shrub can look particularly effective. Once you become involved in container gardening you’ll realise that alternative forms of gardening can provide enormous pleasure.

Written by Reg Warden. Ecological Organic Gardening

Ecological Organic Gardening, Gardening The Modern Way!

Benefits, Pleasures And Advantages In Having Your Own Organic Garden

Visit:- www.eco-organic-gardening.co.uk