Container Garden Care

Container gardens liven up porches and patios and add curb appeal to your home, but they do require some care.

Remember to water your container gardens any time the top half-inch or inch of soil feels dry. Plants in containers can dry out more quickly than plants in the ground, so watch closely for signs of wilt.

The plants in your container garden will also benefit from fertilizing, either with a controlled-release product at the beginning of the season or several applications of a soluble fertilizer throughout the season.

As the plants grow, you may need to trim or thin them to keep the container looking its best. And don’t forget to protect tender plants from cold weather.

UF/IFAS Sites

• Container Gardening

UF/IFAS Publications

• Container Gardens for Outdoor Spaces

Also on Gardening in Minute

• Container Gardening Basics
• Irrigating Container Gardens

Other Sites

• Caring for Container Gardens--University of Vermont Extension
• Caring for Container Vegetable Gardens--Maryland Cooperative Extension (PDF)
• Video: Watering and Caring for Container Gardens--University of Illinois Extension/YouTube