Containers
Containers that can be used for gardening are limited only by your imagination. Clay,
wood, plastic, cement, and metal are all suitable materials for growing plants. Many items
around the house can be modified for use as plant containers such as pots, tubs, crates,
buckets, bushel baskets, whiskey barrels, tires, wheelbarrows, and hanging baskets.
Whatever the material, however, a good container must allow excess water to drain out and
provide sufficient space for roots to grow.
When excess water cannot escape the container, soil pores that should hold air will be
filled with water and roots will die from lack of oxygen. To provide drainage, drill three or four
small (1/4 inch) holes in the bottom of the container. Holes larger than 1/4 inch in diameter
will allow too much soil to escape. Placing a layer of gravel or broken pottery pieces on the
bottom of the container, below the soil, can help stop the flow of soil through larger holes.
Wood containers should be made of a naturally water-resistant wood (such as redwood
or cedar) or synthetic lumber (such as recycled plastic). If using chemically preserved
wood, choose lumber that has been pressure treated with a copper-containing product
such as alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ). Copper and zinc preservatives that are painted
onto the wood are less effective in preventing decay. Do not treat wood with creosote or
pentachlorophenol (Penta) because they are potentially toxic to plants, particularly when
grown in small, enclosed areas. See More About Treated Lumber for details.
Most vegetables and flowers have roots that go 2 to 3 feet deep in good quality soil,
but can be grown in shallower soils. Plants that have restricted roots will be smaller, less
productive, and may produce smaller-sized fruits. Small containers dry out more quickly,
requiring frequent watering. A container with a minimum depth of 10 to 12 inches is
recommended for most plants exposed to drying wind and sun.
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