How To Plant Flowers and Trees in Pots

There is a large variety of pots is many shapes, sizes and colors to improve the look of your patio. There are, however, some very simple rules to follow when planting flowers or trees in pots to help make your gardening successful. Below are some of these tips.

Make sure the pot is big enough for your plant or tree. It should be large enough to accommodate at least one year of growth.

• Use good soil — packaged potting mix may be the best choice.  It has been sterilized so you won’t be introducing any soil problems or diseases.   

• Do NOT fill the bottom of the pot with gravel or other coarse material.  Surprisingly, this may impede drainage. A simple curving piece of broken pot over the drainage hole will keep your potting mixture from leaking out.

• If the potting mix doesn’t have fertilizer in it, add a little bit.  You will want to lightly fertilize most potted plants — indoors and out–every couple of weeks during the growing season.  Or use a slow-release fertilizer.

• Stir in some polymers to the potting mix.  These granules retain water and release it slowly to the soil.  That can mean you have to water the potted plants less frequently.

• Double-pot to help protect pots exposed to direct summer sun.  The inner pot should be terra cotta to absorb water to cool the pot and to allow the plant roots to breathe.  The outer pot should be large enough to allow you to put insulation between the two pots to further help control heat.  For insulation, use sphagnum moss, coarse mulch, wood chips or crumpled newspaper.

• Move planted pots into shade on hot days.

Keep in mind that as the weather heats up, you may still have to water your potted plants two or more times a day. 

Different Patio Design Ideas:

There are no steadfast rules to follow when it comes to the type of outdoor patio design you can have. Many people consider their patio to be an extension of  their home and try to keep similar themes both inside and outside the house. Listed below are some of the more commong types of patio plans: 

Open Patios — Open patios are a sun worshiper’s dream. They are designed to take in the maximum amount of sunlight and air because they are built with the fewest obstructions. That means your patio area is often free from things that create shadows such as overhangs and large trees.

Patio Room – Patio rooms are better known as sunrooms. These types of patios can be used all year long because you don’t have to go outside to enjoy the sun.

Covered Patio –  A covered patio is very similar to a porch, apart from the fact that a patio’s flooring is normally masonry that is laid directly onto grade. Covered patios are often built next to a home, where extended eaves, shade or overhang protects it from weather related issues. Sometimes a part of the patio base stretches from beyond its coverage so that a portion of the patio can access the sun fully. You can add a patio screen to the patio to keep out bugs, too. But covered patios aren’t typically used all year long.

Poolside Patio – Poolside patios are like having a resort in your very own backyard. They have open areas for catching the sun after a dip in the pool and plenty of waterproof and slip-resistant surfaces for safety.

Retreat Patios – Retreat (aka getaway) patios are usually small, intimate outdoor spaces that offer the best privacy. They are normally nestled in a thick enclave of trees and other shrubbery located away from the house. Often your secret getaway patio spot is connected to your home by a little path. Retreat patios can be open-air or have a sheltered roof.

Entry Patios – Entry patios are built at the front of your home. Entry patios are open spaces with wide, paved areas that are great places to relax, visit with neighbors, and for displaying built-in planters and causal patio furniture.

When planning your new garden, ask any landscape architect and they’ll tell you that well chosen and situated outdoor lighting is essential to all-season enjoyment of your garden.

 When carefully planned and installed, outdoor lighting can transform your property at night, turning trees, buildings and other landscape features into dramatic focal points.  Lighting is also essential for safety along paths and walkways, and around decks, patios, and stairs.

  Now that Winter is behind us, you can starting adding a little color to your outdoor patio. By adding some flowers and potted plants you can change the overall look of  your patio and make it appear to be an extension of your home.

1. When selecting what flowers to place in what area you should  consider the lighting in the patio. Study where the sunlight hits in the morning, at noontime, and at four o’clock in the afternoon. This can give you an idea of how to evenly spread plants and flowers so that at all times of day there is something blooming in your patio.

2. You want to select a focal point in the patio landscape design just like you would if you were doing the inside of your home. Focal points can be just about anything you choose, like colorful plants, birdbaths or fountains. The focal point you choose will serve as your patio highlight. These are usually placed in the corner of a garden, or if you have a round garden, right in the center.

3. Choose a theme to plan your patio landscape design on. You may want to choose a complimentary motif with your existing patio. The theme you choose will be the basis of all the planning of your patio. In selecting a theme, you should consider the following factors:

a. The style of your own home. Since the patio is an extension of your home, choose a patio landscape design that is complimentary so that the colors and materials you choose will bring about harmony in design.

b. Keep the patio theme the same as the overall feel of your . For example, choosing a Mediterranean style, or Desert landscape.

4. Planning your landscape around curvy and round shapes add grace to the whole landscape. You can soften up sharp edges with plants, flower beds, and focal points.

Keep in mind that some plants are poisonous and can be dangerous to children and animals. Be sure to read the label or ask a gardening professional before you make your plant purchases.