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4 Helpful Tips for DIY Planters

A popular trend recently taking off with homeowners of all types is container gardening. People are designing indoor and outdoor spaces that feature beautifully potted flowers and plants. Growing and maintaining a container garden, isn’t necessarily as easy as it looks, however. While taking a plant and dropping it into a pot full of dirt seems pretty simple, growing thriving plants can be complicated.

When creating a container garden there are considerations for things such as type of soil and water and sunlight requirements. An equally important consideration is the type of pots or planters to use for your garden. Pots are usually smaller and designed for one plant while planters are larger and can handle a few plants. Companies such as Pots Planters and More offer various styles and sizes of indoor and outdoor planters and pots. With so many considerations, you will need to do some research and planning when embarking on a gardening project. Let’s take a look at some helpful tips for DIY planters.

1. Plan your plants.

plan plants

For many of us, a trip to the garden center or nursery is like taking a kid to a candy shop. Having a beautiful well-planned garden space, however, will take some self-discipline. You will want to plant with a plan by selecting foliage that will do the best at your location. Consider your growing location, light conditions, and plant requirements when planning your garden space.

If you plan on mixing plants in large planters, you will need to select ones that have similar light and water requirements. Other things to consider are bloom times, plant height, and varieties. Selecting the right plants for your space will help you created a beautiful potted garden.

2. Choose the right containers.

plant container

Another important step for a DIY planter is to select the right pot. There a few factors that you need to consider when selecting pots and planters. With your plants in mind, you will have to think about the size of the container. A planter that’s too small could crowd the plant roots and impact water, oxygen, and nutrients. If the pot is too large, it could lead to overly moist soil that could promote fungal growth and rot. A pot that is two to four inches larger than the plant is usually a good rule of thumb. For faster-growing plants, you might consider a slightly larger container.

Since most plants will not do well in standing water, your pots will also need adequate drainage holes. This will ensure that the plants use what they need while allowing excess water to drain off easily. Plants in containers can also have difficulty accessing oxygen. Drainage holes will help your plants “breathe.”

3. Use quality soil.

Quality soil

Perhaps one of the most important elements for growing healthy plants is selecting the best soil. You will want to fill your planters with quality potting soil that contains the proper nutrients and minerals that your plants need. While you might be tempted to fill pots with soil directly from your yard, that usually isn’t the best idea.

Soil from the ground might not be well suited for your plants and it usually will harden and make it difficult for your plants to grow. Quality potting soil will include things such as peat moss, compost, vermiculite, and rotted manure. These elements will be beneficial for your plants but could be a little more expensive. Read the labels when comparing potting soils to be sure that you are getting exactly what you want.

4. Design creative gardens.

Creative garden

When it comes to DIY planting, the most important tip is to rely on your style and creativity! When planning and designing your garden, partner plants that appeal to your personality. Think about combining colors and textures to create a pleasing mix and add character to your indoor and outdoor spaces.

To maintain a clean-looking container garden, try to stick to just one or two main focal plants in each container. You can then build around those featured plants with complementary textures, colors, and forms. There are numerous design styles for containers. Be creative and design spaces that complement your home and your style.

When it comes to successful DIY planting and gardening, you will need to consider plant choice, pot selection, and soil quality. Aside from that, the biggest requirement is that you have fun! Be creative with your container gardens and create beautiful spaces with textures and colors.