Friday, 8 January 2016

Container Gardening Portland Or Style

By Donna Murray


Not everyone has space for a real garden or enough time to plant, weed, and water an extensive area of growing plants. However, that doesn't mean that they have to do without flowers - or vegetables, for that matter. A kitchen counter or a sunny window can hold a few pots, and patios and balconies can be filled with planters. Container gardening Portland Or way can be fun for all ages and make a home more beautiful all year round.

Growing things in pots isn't confined to those with no outdoor garden, of course. Landscape designers know the value of using decorative ceramic or traditional terra cotta pots in sitting areas outdoors. Rural lawns might use a tractor tire as a raised bed. A coffee can can be home to a few annuals. Almost anything can have a practical application, while whimsical things like straw hats or animal planters will add a personal touch.

Pots of bright annuals can be moved around to bring color to otherwise drab areas. Having portable planters also means that plants can be front and center in spring but moved to more protected areas when summer sun gets too hot or winter frost threatens. If a garden has poor soil, plants may do better in pots.

Putting plants in pots is a good way to bring texture and height to any area. Trailing plants look great in hanging baskets or when allowed to tumble over a wall. Window boxes bring color and texture to the front of a home or a porch railing. A patio table looks more inviting with a flower or herb centerpiece. A Boston fern is good company if you're sitting on a bench.

If the only place to have flowers, herbs, or decorative greenery is inside, potting them up is the only way. Some plants need light, so sunny, south-facing windows are great. Others do better without direct sun; they may flourish in a north window. Nothing is prettier than a group of bright geraniums just inside a sliding glass door. Their color will be seen from both inside and out. Foyers are great for a ficus tree, a lemon tree, or even a tropical banana plant.

If window sills are too narrow, any shelf or out-of-the way spot can be good if you install grow lights. Not only will this brighten a dark space, but it will highlight plant color and texture. A small fern or palm will cast an interesting shadow on the wall. Indoor plants clean the air of toxins, add both oxygen and moisture, and make your home a healthier place.

Research actually validates the health benefits of plants in the home and in the workplace. Employers in Portland OR find that there are fewer days missed because of illness, and productivity goes up as well. There are many plants that like fluorescent light, and others that grow in almost no light at all. Many of the latter are most efficient at cleaning the air.

As far as growing your own food goes, tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, and herbs are all good candidates for container growing in Portland OR. There are even guidelines for turning your living room into a vegetable garden. Health nuts grow wheat grass in flats. Learn how to add beauty to your home, boost your health, and feed yourself with plants in pots.




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