Containers are versatile and add beauty and productivity to your garden. Grow vegetables and flowers--both annuals and perennials. Advice on growing in containers from an experienced gardener.

1. April 2015 Master Gardeners Association of Cape Cod
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CONTAINER GARDENING
Containers for Beauty, Fun and Food
Mary Lou Roberts

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• How, Why and Where to Use Containers
• What Kind of Containers
• Container Soil
• Designing Container Plantings
• Food As Well as Flowers
• Maintaining Container Plantings
• Annual
• Perennial
Mary Lou Roberts

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HOW AND WHY TO USE CONTAINERS
Mary Lou Roberts
THINK ABOUT ISSUES IN YOUR LANDSCAPE

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NO FOUNDATION PLANTINGS - > WINDOW BOXES
Mary Lou Roberts

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DECK DESIGNED WITH DEAD SPACE
Mary Lou Roberts

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ACCENT/CARRY OUT THEME
Courtesy Master Gardener David Rogers

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FILL AN EMPTY SPOT
Mary Lou Roberts

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MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY AFTER A LONG WINTER!
AND MANY, MANY MORE!!
Mary Lou Roberts

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WHAT KIND OF CONTAINERS
Mary Lou Roberts
ANYTHING WITH GOOD DRAINAGE!

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FOUND OBJECTS ARE FUN!
A Coal Scuttle A Soapstone Sink

11. April 2015 Master Gardeners Association of Cape Cod
BUILD YOUR OWN FROM FOUND MATERIALS
https://www.facebook.com/TheRawfoodfamily
Mary Lou Roberts

12. April 2015 Master Gardeners Association of Cape Cod
PALLETS ABUNDANT, CHEAP,
VERY POPULAR!
Courtesy Master Gardener Melissa Caughey
Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015
“Urban Eats”
Mary Lou Roberts

13. April 2015 Master Gardeners Association of Cape Cod
CAN PURCHASE ELABORATE CONTAINERS
Mary Lou Roberts

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PRICE VARIES, BUT NONE ARE CHEAP
Mary Lou Roberts

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SMART POTS ARE ALL THE RAGE

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SMART POTS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE

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SEARCH ‘CREATIVE CONTAINERS PLANTS’
Over The Door Shoe Holder Shoes PVC Pipe
http://scouthort.blogspot.
com/2010/05/vertical-
gardening-on-cheap.html https://urbangreenspace.files
.wordpress.com/2012/04/inp
ositionlater.jpg
whattimeisoclock.blogspot.com

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CONTAINER SOIL
Mary Lou Roberts

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NEVER USE ACTUAL SOIL
Mary Lou Roberts

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CONTAINER SOIL OPTIONS
• Commercial
• Regular, Organic
• Fertilized not Necessary
• With Moisture Beads Harder to Regulate, I Think
• Recipes All Over the Web
• Use the SOILLESS Versions
Mary Lou Roberts

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CONTAINER MIX LOSES NUTRIENTS QUICKLY
• After One Season Can Add to Garden Beds—Expensive!
• Refresh
• Equal Amounts Old Container Mix, New Bagged Container Mix
• Equal Amounts Old Container Mix and Well Screened Compost
• Add Nutrients—Balanced Fertilizer, Plant-Specific Nutrients
• Perlite and/or Vermiculite to Loosen the Mix
Mary Lou Roberts

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CHOOSING PLANTS AND
DESIGNING CONTAINER PLANTINGS
Mary Lou Roberts

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PLANTS DESIGNED FOR CONTAINERS
Nice but Not Necessary
Mary Lou Roberts

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SINGLE PLANTS OR MIXED PLANTINGS
Courtesy of Master Gardener Sharon Oudemool
Mary Lou Roberts

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P. ALLEN SMITH CONTAINER DESIGN
Tall and Spikey
Cascading
Mounding
Mary Lou Roberts

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NURSERY IN CALIFORNIA HAS WHIMSICAL APPROACH
EDIBLES, INCLUDING FLOWERS
Mary Lou Roberts

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FOOD AS WELL AS FLOWERS
Mary Lou Roberts

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BIRDS ATTRACTED TO MILLET AND SUNFLOWERS
Mary Lou Roberts

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HERBS
Courtesy Master Gardener Patricia Greenwood
Mary Lou Roberts

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A LOVELY SALAD
Mary Lou Roberts

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Milk Crates Hold Mixed Greens Veggies in Hay Bales
Courtesy Master Gardener Melissa Caughey
Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015
“Urban Eats”
VEGGIES IN VARIOUS CONTAINERS

32. April 2015 Master Gardeners Association of Cape Cod
CREATIVE USE OF PLASTICIZED TOTE BAG
http://containergardening.about.com/od/vegetablesandherbs/a/Growing_Tomatoes_Mistakes.htm
Mary Lou Roberts

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MAINTAINING CONTAINER PLANTINGS
Mary Lou Roberts
ANNUALS & PERENNIALS PRESENT DIFFERENT CHALLENGES

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PERENNIALS IN CONTAINERS PRESENT CHALLENGES
Mary Lou Roberts

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BURY POTS FOR WINTER
Mary Lou Roberts

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PULL THEM UP IN SPRING
DROP THEM IN A CONTAINER
ENJOY!
Mary Lou Roberts

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ANNUALS
• Frequent Watering, Daily or Even More in
Hottest Summer/ Largest Plants
• Fertilize Frequently, Perhaps Once a Week
Mary Lou Roberts

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TAKE AWAYS
• Use Containers to Remedy Issues in Your Landscape, Fill in
Bare Spots in Beds, Provide an Accent . . . . . .
• Plants Appropriate to Use
• Creative Pots and Plantings
• Good Container Soil
• Daily Care
Beauty Fun Food
Mary Lou Roberts

39. April 2015 Master Gardeners Association of Cape Cod
THESE GARDENS ARE ON THE MASTER MONDAY GARDEN TOUR
JULY 13, 2015
Mary Lou Roberts

40. April 2015 Master Gardeners Association of Cape Cod
ALONG WITH 9 OTHERS
FROM FALMOUTH TO TRURO
MasterGardenerMonday.blogspot.com
THANK YOU!
QUESTIONS?
Mary Lou Roberts