How To Plant a Patio Pot Container Garden

Every year, Schaefer's plants up hundreds of beautiful, custom patio pots. The photos above show the pots planted by Adriena and Kandy for the Village of Montgomery Beautification Project.

Decorative patio pots add a splash of color to patios, decks, entrances and landscapes. You can create a masterpiece of your own by following these simple steps.

• Select a container - Consider color, weight and style. A larger pot will hold more moisture. Also, if the pot does not allow drainage, be sure to drill holes in the bottom of the pot.
• Choose plants based on color scheme and sun exposure (sun vs shade plants) - Select a tall grass or spike for center of pot, medium sized plants next and trailing plants near the edge of the pot. Schaefer's has hundreds of annuals, and we're here to help you with your selection. Placing the plants in the container before planting will help you see how many will fit into the pot. Remember that the plants will grow, so do not overfill the pot.
• Fill pot with potting soil. Water the pot along with all other plants (in their individual pots) to prevent root shock.
• Time to plant! Start in the center of the pot and work your way outward. Remove each plant from pot and softly loosen roots. Place in pot and firmly pack the soil around each plant.
• Water pot thoroughly
• Fertilize - Use a slow release fertilizer after planting, and then use a water soluble fertilizer for the rest of the season.

Remember to water your beautiful patio pot often!

To watch Adriena plant the custom patio pots for the Village of Montgomery, follow this link -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcYHjqpvs7E

Vegetable Garden Tips

It's time to plant your veggie garden! By growing your own vegetables, you not only save money on expensive produce at the store, but you also enjoy the distinct, delicious taste of the freshest fruits and vegetables from your own garden. On average, a $50 investment in vegetable seeds and plants can yield up to $1250 worth of groceries at the local supermarket!

Some of the produce that ends up on our dinner table comes from other continents. We really don't think about where our food comes from, how it was grown or how long ago it was harvested. When you grow your own vegetables, you can take pride in knowing that you're helping the environment and providing your family with the freshest produce available!

Growing a vegetable garden is not as difficult as it seems. Here are a few simple guidelines.

Select a location with at least 6 hours of sun each day. Mix the soil with mushroom compost (for nutrients) and peat moss (to lighten the soil for root growth).

Decide which crops you'd like to plant. Follow labels on seed packets and pots for proper distance between crops. If you're first timer and looking for something easy, try tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, radishes and green beans. Also try tasty herbs like chives, parsley, cilantro and thyme. We're here to help with your selection!

If you don't have much space for a vegetable garden, you can grow veggies in patio pots or even in small groupings around your pre-existing landscape.

Be sure to water regularly. Pick ripened crops frequently to encourage more production.

Soon, you'll be harvesting delicious produce from your own garden. Enjoy!

Stay tuned for progress on our employees' veggie gardens! More tips to follow!