Container Gardening Outdoors: Wikipedia defines Container Gardening as follows: (Container gardening is the practice of growing plants exclusively in containers instead of planting them in the ground. In some cases, this method of growing is used for ornamental purposes. This method is also useful in areas where the soil or climate is unsuitable for the plant or crop in question. Limited growing space can also make this option appealing to the gardener).

Container gardening outdoors is becoming the rage because it requires very little space. A lot of families have small yards and not enough space available to put in a garden. More families are living in condos, apartments and town homes, allowing for them to experiment and enjoy container gardening outdoors. It’s not only convenient, but allows them to feed their families healthier meals and saves them a lot of money.

There is so much to enjoy with container gardening outdoors other then the fresh vegetables and herbs. By growing the different types of vegetables and herbs, you add color and life to your back yard, deck or patio. There are a variety of containers you can plant in, with terra cotta being the most popular. Not only do they look nice outdoors, they come in a variety of sizes for your specific needs. Planting in containers outdoors is so much fun and you can create a nice effect in your yard by adding pots of flowers that add a lot of color to make it visually appealing.

The containers you choose for your vegetables and herbs are totally up to your own personal tastes. Any type can be used from terra cotta being the most popular to plastic buckets, milk cartons and wooden crates but be sure they are untreated. Also be sure to have proper drainage in the pots to prevent overwatering and root rot. Another important thing to think about is the weight of these containers. If you are a small person, you don’t want to be moving these heavy pots around the yard. Once these heavy pots are filled with soil, plants and water, they can weigh more then you probably can or want to lift. However, that is totally an individual decision and if you know for certain that the heavy pots won’t be moving around the yard, then it doesn’t matter and weight is not a problem.

Remember that no space is to small when it comes to container gardening outdoors. The flexibility of being able to move your plants around the yard or deck is so rewarding. It is wonderful to be able to add a container full of vegetables, herbs or even flowers to a bare spot in the yard to make it more visually appealing. If you have stairs, you can line them with a variety of ornamental pots or plant stands to create a focal point to that area all the while watching your garden grow

In most parts of the country, not all plants can withstand the winters. But don’t let the winter dull the look of your yard or deck. Planting evergreen boughs and ornamental twigs or branches in wrought iron urns or fibreglass planters will keep your yard looking alive and add some color.

Don’t worry if you try and something doesn’t work for you. Next year try something different. There is no real rule book, just decide what you want to grow and make it happen.  Container gardening is very forgiving and fun to experiment with. Just enjoy the rewards you and your family will reap as you experiment with different vegetables and herbs.