How To Garden In Pots

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Maybe you're ready to dabble in gardening but don't want to dig up your yard. Or perhaps your outdoor space is limited to a rooftop, cement patio or fire escape. Whatever your reason, thanks to fantastic containers in a multitude of shapes and sizes, it's never been easier to flex your green thumb in the smallest of spaces. Read on for expert advice to help you get growing—plus check out WD's picks for wallet-friendly planters.

Gardening expert Iris Weaver of the Boston Center for Adult Education shares eight tips that will have you well on your way to a successful container garden:

1. Once you choose a space and decide where your containers will go, take note of how much sun, rain and wind the area gets.

2. Find out what type of climate—or which USDA Zone—your home is located in. You'll also need to consider your microclimate: the conditions that are specific to your little world, which will vary based on whether you live on a sprawling farm, in a city high-rise or something in between.

3. When picking out your plants, consider your needs as well as theirs. How often can you reasonably water? Don't choose high-maintenance plants if the answer is "not often!" If your space is sunny, are you willing to provide some shade? If not, skip shade-loving plants.

4. Always buy a high-quality soil. Shop around for a container mix, which will be formulated for your small, compact garden. Don't just scoop soil from your backyard or garden; it will likely be full of weeds just waiting to pop up—plus, it will harden to a cement-like consistency over time.

5. Arrange and prep your containers before you start planting. If you wait until after you plant and water to configure your planters, even small ones may be too heavy to move. Once they're in place, fill the bottom of extra-deep pots with upside-down plastic takeout containers or a bag of shipping peanuts; you'll use less soil, which will help save money.

6. To plant your seedlings, cover the filler (if you're using it) with soil, or just add soil until the pot is about halfway full. Carefully pull a plant from the container it came in, gently work the roots apart and spread them over the top of the soil. Add more soil to hold the plant in place, gently pressing it down until the soil is about an inch below the planter's rim.

7. Water your plants right away—they're thirsty! Pay attention to watering instructions; over- and under-watering are two surefire ways to kill plants. Lightly feed your plants immediately so they can absorb nutrients while they spread their roots and settle in. Follow package instructions for continued feedings.

8. In addition to watering and feeding, to maintain your plants you'll need to keep your containers free of dead and decaying matter. You'll also want to keep an eye out for pests—many can be controlled without the use of chemicals, if you catch them early enough.

Perfect Planters:

Vertical Gardening

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A trio of stacked planters in graduated sizes lets you arrange three miniature gardens at once. When selecting your plants, keep in mind that the top-tiered ones will get the most sun while the lower levels will be slightly shaded and catch any overflow watering from above. Pyramid Patio Planter, $24.99; CollectionsEtc.com .

Barrel of Flowers

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Use a pair of wooden tubs flanking your front door to add bold splashes of seasonal color. The clean, simple design leaves the focus where it should be—on the plants inside them. Matthews Four Seasons 17" Shallow Heartwood Barrel Tub, $22.97; Lowes.com .

Lowes.com

Sky's the Limit

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You can enjoy summer's bounty even in the most limited spaces. Topsy Turvy's hanging planter let's gravity work its magic when there's no room for staking. Plus, it can even be hung out the window of a high-up apartment, giving you easy access to all the ingredients for homemade pasta sauce. Tomato & Herb Planter, $14.10; Amazon.com .

Cozy Corner

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Each level of this tiered, weather-resistant iron planter has a coco liner, which ensures good drainage. With two stacked pots, it can be used to display a variety of plants without taking up too much space on your patio. 2-Tier Coco Plant Stand, $20.26; Walmart.com .

Multitasking Must

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For a mini herb garden, use each "pot" in this stacked, tri-level planter to grow a different plant. At the end of summer, empty each level; they can be stored one inside the other till next growing season. Or, if your plants will last year-round, simply bring the container indoors. Mini-Garden Stacker, $34.95; Amazon.com .

Wheely Good

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If there are several plants you like that have different watering needs, plant each one in an inexpensive terra-cotta pot, then arrange the lot in this two-level decorative wagon. You can water some pots more frequently while letting others dry out. Pack the pots close together to give the appearance of a single container. Amish Wagon Decorative Garden Decor, $19.99; CollectionsEtc.com .

Border Patrol

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Dress up a fence with a series of coco-lined iron planters, which are perfect for both squat flowers, like pansies or impatiens, and "weeping" plants that will spill over their sides, such as sweet potato vines or wave petunias. These easy-to-install containers also work as window boxes. Panacea Products Flat Iron Series Window/Deck Planter, $19.99; Amazon.com .

Box o' Blooms

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This eye-catching box is made from solid teak, so it doesn't need a liner—unlike other woods, teak is naturally resistant to moisture, rot and warping. Bonus: It comes with pre-drilled drainage holes, so your plants won't get waterlogged. Rectangle Teak Wood Herb Box, Prices start at $29.98; SimplyPlanters.com .

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