things to do in the summer

Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society
Plant and Grow - Gardening for Children

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Things to do in the summer – June to August

Planting pots, tubs, troughs and other containers for display

(Pallet Gardens)

What do we need to start?

- Containers for planting – flower pots or waterproof box etc with drainage holes

- Suitable ‘bedding’ plants – you can grow these yourself
(Perennial plants and small trees can be used and saved for re-use next year)

- Compost/soil – a mixture of garden soil and compost will do fine

- Small stones to assist drainage

- Long-acting plant food

- Labels, Pen/pencil

- Pallet 1 x metre square

Even if you don’t have a garden there is always a place where a pot or some sort of container can be filled with plants. Suitable containers may be a window box, trough or tub and these can be used to add colour to an otherwise dull area like a back yard or patio. Note that containers dry-out quicker than open ground and need regular watering especially during hot, dry periods.

Plant containers can come in many sizes, shapes and colours and can be made from a variety of materials - clay, stone, wood, metal and plastic.

They need not be expensive and you can make your own ‘planters’ from a 2 litre plastic milk container, a large biscuit tin, wooden box or any other water resistant container that can hold about 15cm of soil. The bottom of the container must have drainage holes to prevent water logging and hold a sufficient depth of compost/soils to support the growing plants.

When choosing plants for your container consideration should be given to the type and requirements of what you intend to grow. You should ask questions like: will the plants grow well together, do they prefer sun or shade, how much room do they need and when will they flower? This is information that will help to make a better display. Generally a selection of bedding plants from the garden centre will provide a lasting bright display.

Groups of pots and other containers of different shapes and sizes can be arranged together onto a wooden pallet (Approx. 1 metre square) for a wonderful show of colour. The procedure is similar to ‘flower arranging’ as you can move the pots and containers around to get the best effect. When the season is over any unwanted plants that have passed their best can be put onto the compost heap and any perennial plants that need frost protection can be moved inside and used again next year. A pallet display is a simple and easy way of producing your own small colourful garden that can also produce herbs, salad crops and fruit such as strawberries.

Follow the instructions:

Planting Pots and Containers

1. Select a suitable size and shape of container for the plant/s it is to hold.

2. Ensure the container has drainage holes and place some small stones in the bottom to assist drainage.

3. Mix a small amount of long acting fertilizer (follow makers recommendations) with soil/compost – this will supply plant food throughout the growing season.

4. Fill and firm compost to within 2cm of the container's rim. Using a trowel, make a hole sufficient to take the selected plant/s and firm into position with your fingers.

5. Water the plants and let them drain before arranging your display.

6. The container will require regular attention by watering, dead-heading and removing dead and diseased plants. During the season occasionally weed and loosen the soil around the growing plants. It is important to treat any pests as soon as they appear.

7. If you have planted-up a metre square pallet, rearrange the plants, replace them and change the design to keep your display fresh, colourful and interesting.

A cheap and simple way to display trailing plants is to use plastic shopping bags.

1. Place one plastic bag inside another and half fill with compost or soil.

2. Tie the handles of the bags into a knot leaving a loop sufficient to attach the bag to a hook or nail.

3. The tied bag will look like a cushion with a small hole at the knotted end where the soil is visible. Enlarge this hole to a size adequate to take one or two trailing plants.

4. Repeat this exercise three or four times and hook each bag to a wooden plank one above the other hanging vertically on a sunny wall or fence.

5. The plants will cascade over the plastic bags and look very attractive by mid summer.

6. This is also an excellent way to grow strawberries for example. Expect approximately 300g of strawberries from each plant.

7. Cut the bottom off a litre plastic bottle, remove the top and push the bottle through the side of the bag; fill the bottle when watering the plants.

8. The plants will need regular watering, do not over water but never let the bags ‘dry-out’.

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