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 Container Gardening Tips : Keeping your summer planters happy
When summer is in full swing, it is important to shift gears in container gardening activities from planting and arranging, to nurturing our planters through the heat and dryness of the summer. If you have done your container planting correctly—ensured adequate drainage in your planters, preferably used soil or container mixes designed specifically for container planting, positioned your plants where they will receive their required growing conditions and added slow-release nutrients—your planters should be off to a good start.
If you live in a particularly hot and dry region consider using self-watering planters to help maintain adequate water levels in your planters. Also, explore the selection of plants at your local nursery that are labelled drought-resistant or prefer drier conditions.
Early Summer Check-up
Ideally, by this time of year your container garden is flourishing and has not experienced much, if any, stress such as extreme temperature, moisture, dryness or pests. If your planters have had any problems, it's important to address and resolve any issues before the hottest part of the season arrives. Give some extra attention to plants that seem to be struggling, remove any pests that have taken up residence as soon as you notice them, test the soil to make sure it is not too wet or too dry, and add liquid feeding every week to help your plants recover. If plants are too far gone, remove them so they do not affect nearby plants. if plants are distressed now, they likely won't make it through the hot weather ahead, so it is better for both the look and health of your containers to get rid of them now.
A Little Extra Attention Goes a Long Way
 Your containers should be going into the hot and dry season under the best conditions possible. As the days warm up, increase your attention to watering. Depending on the temperature, you will likely have to water most containers daily, and often, hanging planters require watering more than once through the day. As you water more you must also replace nutrients that are washed through the soil. Add liquid nutrients at least once a week. Some gardeners add nutrients at half-strength every second watering with good results. A little experimentation will show you which method your planters require.
Plan to water either early morning or early evening for best results. Do not water containers in the hottest part of day as the water just evaporates and the plant does not receive as much water as you think, and some leaves and flowers will scorch if they are wet in the hot sun.
Key Activities for Summer Planters
- Check planters and water more frequently as heat rises
- Add additional nutrients as you increase watering
- Water in early morning or early evening
- Deadhead annuals and perennials often to encourage continual blooms
- Keep an eye out for pests (especially aphids and whitefly) and remove quickly
- If a plant becomes stressed, move to shady location and give a light summer shower
- Rotate hanging baskets so all sides receive full sun
Emergency Care
If you do find a plant has wilted badly from lack of water, you may be able to rescue it with an emergency technique. Place the planter in a larger container (in shady location) such as a bucket or laundry sink. Fill the container with water above the rim of the planter and let the plant soak for a couple of hours.
Gently mist the leaves of the plant a couple of times while it soaks. This technique will work with some plants, especially hanging planters that seem to wilt suddenly. Keep the plant in a semi-shady location after recovery if possible to give it a chance to come back completely. You can get away with this a time ot two but if a plant is continually stressed to the point of wilting it will eventually not come back.
Consider using self-watering planters to help keep your planters adequately watered and flourishing all summer long.
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