Gardening
Gerald Filipski
Low Water Annuals
There seems to be a bit of a dilemma when it comes to gardening in
today’s busy world. While more and more people are being drawn back
into gardening in some form or other, the time they have for tending plants
seems to be less and less. This situation may be especially true
for retirees who seem to be spending more time on activities
such as travel, golf, and fitness, for example, than previous
generations did. Time-efficient or low-maintenance
gardening seems to be the desire of many gardeners.
When speaking to retirees today I often hear the same
lament: “I still love gardening, but I want no or low
maintenance — and I’d rather garden in containers.”
Low-maintenance gardening becomes more of a
challenge when gardening in containers.
While container gardening
certainly has its advantages,
there are some concerns that
need to be addressed. The pros
of container gardening include
the ability to fertilize efficiently
with slow-release fertilizers.
One application is usually
enough to last the entire or most
of the growing season. This
method is a very efficient way
of keeping the plants supplied
with nutrients. Another pro
is the ease of weeding. First,
there is little room in a properly
planted container for weeds to
find a place to grow. If they do
take root, it is easy to spot the
invaders and remove them. Yet
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another advantage is the ability
to easily move the containers
around, arranging them as
you see fit and changing the
arrangement when you tire of it.
Watering is probably the most
time-consuming activity when
it comes to growing plants in
containers. Direct sunlight
can exacerbate the need for
water, as can wind. Many
condominium balconies, for
example, are exposed to strong
wind conditions that can rapidly
dry out a container. During hot
summer months, containers may
need to be watered at least twice
a day. You can help alleviate
the problem by using a mulch
applied
to the
top of the
soil in the pot to hinder the
evaporation of moisture. The
mulch can be something as
simple as shredded bark. You
can also use a timer and drip
irrigation system, which is a
very effective solution to the
watering issue if there is access
to an external water source.
Choosing containers that are
more impervious to evaporation
is another option. Containers
made out of terra cotta, for
example, will dry out much
more rapidly than plastic or cast
resin types.