I want to get started early with my container flower plantings, but the weather has been so cold that I’m worried about possible frost damage. Also what can I do to keep my containers from petering out before summer is over?
I often start early with container flowers. I just set them out on the patio with shade to get them started. I open the door and bring them inside at sunset. Two bigger tubs are on an old wagon for easier handling. I have one raised planter bed that I just cover with a blanket if it looks frosty. This combination of cool days and warm nights gets them started faster than if they were left outside all the time.
There are several things you can do to improve the performance of your containers. If you are using last year’s soil, mix some water-holding crystals thoroughly into the entire soil. There is much less danger of damage if you forget to water.
Another way to handle watering is to set up an automatic irrigation system. You can purchase materials at most garden and hardware stores. I put one together that was hooked to my faucet and had three lines.
