home Small Spaces, Big Smiles Glen Goldberg I Special to the Jewish News N othing brightens an entrance, adds color to an otherwise unremarkable corner or fin- ishes a patio like beautifully planted containers. These small gardens can add color, texture, drama and seasonal interest to the landscape. Get creative! It's an empty palette, but before you select your plants and the perfect con- tainer, you need to get off to a good start. Need more room to entertain? Convert your lower level into a walkout or add large windows. Call the craftsmen of Alessio Custom Interiors. Free Consultation. Soil — The Perfect Blend The first important and often over- looked step to create a successful container garden is to use a good potting soil. Choose a quality mix- ture that provides a combination of good drainage and aeration. Potting soil is technically not soil at all. It is comprised of components to aid drain- age, organic nutrients and material for water retention. Avoid top soil or soil from the garden. It will become compacted in pots and stunt plant growth. How about reusing the soil in last year's containers? Yes, but only after replenishing depleted soil with about 25 percent organic matter such as compost or manure. Bagged soils are pretty cost-effective because all the guesswork has been taken out of it. Professional blends have already been charged with starter nutrients and are pH-adjusted. Year Round Swim Lessons! 4 months - 12 years of age 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio 30-minute weekly lessons Get swim-ready with Jump Start Clinics! Over the Summer we're offering five consecutive days of swim lessons to help your child get ready for the beach, vacation, pool parties and endless swimming fun. You'll see significant swimming improvement in just five short days! I Our pools are 90 degrees! Choose The Right Planter We have locations in Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Cleveland, Chica•o and Indiana • olis. Location,times & details can be found on our website: US on Facebook! goldfishswimschool.com 1823900 42 June 13 • 2013 Almost any vessel can be used as a planter, as long as it has holes for drainage. When choosing a pot, remember that large containers hold more soil and water and therefore will dry out more slowly than small plant- ers. So, if you can tend to your pots only a couple of times a week, avoid small terra-cotta pots that will need watering up to twice a day in summer. Design-wise, consider each container for its size, shape and material. You may want to have different sizes and shapes in the same material for an informal but harmonious arrange- ment. Any selected pots should suit your design. A set of rustic watering This container garden, filled with cans and metal pots would work well in a cottage garden. A set of clean-lined, square columns would be show stoppers in a contemporary setting. Bergenia, Jacob's Ladder, Coral Bells, Pansies and Curly Willow, is a nice addition to any porch or patio. Plant Selection Select plants that are compatible in terms of light, water, growth and the conditions in the chosen site. Don't mix a shade- and water-lover with a dry-and-sunny plant. On plant selec- tion, be adventurous! Gardening with containers allows you the opportunity to experiment and take chances with color combinations and plant choices. Try large coleus or perennials for texture and for various heights. Don't be intimidated or shy. Combine vari- ous colors, various textures, sizes and growth habits. Watering Pay close attention to watering. For containers in sunny, hot or windy areas, watering twice a day may be necessary. A plant that has outgrown its pot will also need more frequent watering. Consider using a water- absorbing polymer. It will improve moisture retention of the potting soil. Nutrients and organic matter leach out of a pot much faster than they do in the ground, so use a slow-release fer- tilizer to provide necessary nutrition and eliminate regular feedings. Drip irrigation systems are best. Container gardening is a really great way to get your "green on:' The choices are infinite and you can be as vivid, elegant, whimsical, (fill in the blank with a favorite adjective) as you like. Just follow the basic rules of care and feeding and start planting! Smiles are a guaranteed side effect. ❑ Glen Goldberg is the founder and presi- dent of Four Seasons Garden Center & Landscape Services in Oak Park, Birmingham and Traverse City.