With the heat of summer here in Idaho, I have learned to be careful about how I use pots for planting. Many ideas just don’t work here because the plants in the sun tend to get scorched, but the ones in the shade get easily water logged. I discuss this in more detail in a blog I wrote for D&B Supply about how to evaluate container planting.
You might think that between these problems and having a generous acre to plant on that I would have no need to use pots. However, I have come up with some ways to use pots that help me solve problems. I offer you 5 particular options:
1. Use pots to plant under a tree where you can’t or don’t want to disturb the soil.
Follow this link to find photos of heavenly blue morning glory growing on a fence in my yard.
Thunbergia are easy to grow from seed, as I write about in this article.
I may get around to adding another couple of pots, but for now, one has been completed.
2. Let a pot help protect your plants from insects than might eat it when small.
The plastic pot here on the south side of the barn will help retain more moisture.
3. Meld pots into a flower bed to visual interest.
These pots are terra cotta, since they get more shade during the day in this location, thus don’t dry out as much. The terra cotta allows for some measure of drainage. This year I have planted some of the cape daisies that I grew from seed that I saved last fall. I’m hoping for quite a display.
4. Pair a vine in a pot with trellis to dress up a barren area.
The trellis is just a piece of ranch fence panel tied (with metal fencing wire) to the posts. I installed it myself within 20 minutes, but the fence was already cut to a good size.
5. Position your pots so that they are watered by the sprinklers.
The plants in this front porch arrangement are mostly impulse purchases, but they are still small. They will fill in!