LET'S GET GARDENING!
After this cold weather, we are all eager to add some color to our empty pots! Let’s talk about some ways to make your containers beautiful and maintainable.
Important Note: The last frost date is currently April 15th. When temperatures start dropping into the 30's, it is a good idea to either bring you container inside or place a frost cloth over it. This will protect your newly planted containers from frost and freeze damage.
THE CONTAINER
The most important rule, is that there is drainage! Having a way for excess water to drain is pretty vital for your plants’ health and survival. For outdoor containers, it is easiest to choose a pot that already has a drainage hole.
We also have compostable inserts available that make potting up your container easy and sustainable. This is especially great if your outdoor container is large or heavy. You can just pot up the compostable insert and plop it right in your container. When the container has run its course, you can pull out the insert and compost it somewhere in your garden. It will break down over time.
If your container is deep and you don’t want to use so much soil, you can layer some old plastic pots at the bottom to take up some space. This will not only save on soil but will make your container lighter in weight.
THE SOIL
For soil, use something that is nutrient rich and has the proper water retention for what you need. If your container is going to live in a hot, sunny spot, choose a soil that has good water holding capacity so that it doesn’t dry out too quickly. If you are potting up succulents, use a potting soil.
A few soils we recommend are:
LET'S TALK ABOUT PLANTS!
To understand the science behind it, we have to think of the anatomy of a plant. Plants have two ‘veins’, Xylem and Phloem. Xylem is used to carry water from the roots to the top of the plant. Phloem is used to carry sugars and other nutrients produced by photosynthesis from the leaves to other developing areas. When the water in the Xylem freezes and then thaws, it can cause damage to the plant cells due to Embolism. This is where gas bubbles form during the freezing period and then expand during the thawing period, causing water transportation loss and reduction in photosynthesis productivity. These side effects can be detrimental to the plant.
LET'S PREPARE
There are a few ways to prepare for upcoming frost and freeze events. You just have to decide what will work best for you and your space.
MOVE INDOORS
If you can, this is the easiest way to protect your plants. During a frost, moving the pots into your garage, a shed, or popup greenhouse can also be very effective. This will keep frost from forming on your plants and causing damage, even if the temperature is colder.
COVER PLANTS
Before dark, cover plants with a blanket or sheet to insulate them and trap daytime heat, using bamboo stakes or poles to prevent crushing and bricks or stakes to secure the cover in wind. Be sure to remove the cover in the morning or once temperatures rise to prevent overheating.
WATERING
Water your plants well the day before! Water temperature cools slower than air temperature, so having moist soil can act as insulation.
USE MILK JUGS
You can cut the bottom off a milk jug and use it as a cloche or small greenhouse. This will trap in some heat and protect against frost forming on the plant.
