Small Space Container Gardening
Container gardening offers a perfect solution for today’s busy, space-conscious gardeners. Whether you live in an apartment, have a small patio, or simply want to add more greenery close to your living space, container gardening makes it possible. Virtually anything you can grow in the ground—annuals, perennials, bulbs, ornamental grasses, vegetables, herbs, shrubs and even small trees—can also thrive in containers. One of the major advantages is flexibility: you can rearrange pots as easily as you would move furniture, allowing you to change the look of your outdoor space to match your mood, a special event or the seasons. Additionally, plants’ light requirements become more manageable, as lightweight planters or containers on coasters can be easily shifted to follow the sun’s movement throughout the day.
Container gardens also bring the plants closer to your everyday living areas—right outside your door or on your balcony—making them easier to enjoy and maintain. Because the plants are elevated, gardening involves less bending, kneeling and overall strain, making it an excellent option for people with mobility issues or anyone who simply wants a more convenient gardening experience. Container gardening truly makes having a lush, beautiful, and productive garden easier than ever before.
Evergreens for Privacy
If you are looking to create a little privacy in a small outdoor space like a patio, deck or balcony, container gardening with evergreens is a fantastic option. Did you know that evergreens are excellent for year-round screening and many are suitable for planting in containers and can be left undisturbed for years? Narrow and 
columnar evergreens, such as pine (Pinus), boxwood (Buxus), yew (Taxus) and juniper (Juniperus), are particularly good choices. They provide vertical interest without taking up much horizontal space.
When an evergreen begins to outgrow its container, simply repot it into a larger vessel to ensure continued health and growth. Choose non-porous, weather-resistant containers like concrete, fiberglass, heavy plastic, metal or high-fired ceramic, especially if you live in an area with freezing winters. Terra-cotta pots, while attractive, are prone to cracking during freeze-thaw cycles. For a fuller effect, group several pots together to form a living “green wall.” Regular watering and occasional fertilizing will keep your container evergreens thriving and beautiful all year long.
