• Plant Care and Photo by Kara Smith of The Contained Gardener
• A Well Grown Winter Potted Garden

The beauty of pots is that you can always add more. Go shopping for a couple pots today and maybe even pick up the soil. Get them set and then go to the nursery another day - and be ready to plant no later than the very next morning. Be sure to water your plants when you get home as the trip in the car may have dried them out. Remember, the nurseries are watering 4" annuals two to four times a day in the heat.

Our Potted Garden classes are taking a break for the early part of the summer. If you have something you would like us to offer, let me know!! In the meantime, stay cool and stay connected right here!

Have a question? Email Marylee.

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• Pedilanthus - Another Potted Favorite

I prefer suggesting plants that do not go dormant in the winter, nor do they need to be pruned each winter. Plants such as our grasses and salvias fall into this category and although they are beautiful during the warm months, they do not do our pots justice in the winter. My experience with potted landscape plants such as bougainvillea, sages and Texas Rangers in pots has not been satisfactory.

My list includes the following:

» Gazania
» Scabiosa
» Artemesia (many varieties)
» Lantana (I prefer treating this as an annual)
» Lavenders (grey leafed better – not the soft green)
» Arctotis
» Ajuga (Shade)
» Euphorbia amygdaloides & Euphorbia martinii’ (prefer morning sun)
» Salvia: Indigo Spires
» Euonymus
» Society Garlic
» Red Yucca

What can you add to this list? Email me.

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• Would you rescue or throw this plant?

Have a question? Email Marylee.

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Creating a container garden is an act of beauty in itself. There is no digging in the ground, which especially in the desert is daunting. Pots can be moved, plantings easily changed and as we grow older (never old), pots can make it easier on our backs as we can sit in a chair to tend them.

A thoughtful creation of a container garden will be a work of art. Be it a combination of colorful flowers – perennials and/or annuals, a single planting, vegetables and herbs, succulents and cacti – a potted garden easily becomes a living, breathing addition to your home’s outdoor living areas or a beautiful welcome for your guests.

Get inspired! Now is the time.

• Flowers, Herbs, Kumquat Trees and even Tomatoes Grace a Kitchen Courtyard. Potted Garden by The Contained Gardener

Have a question? Email Marylee.

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• Potted Garden by The Contained Gardener

PLANTING

• Warm-season annuals such as cosmos, globe amaranth, gloriosa daisy, marigold, and zinnia. Be sure to check that the plants’ root systems are well developed by gently lifting the plant from its nursery container and looking for a light-colored ‘road map’ of roots.
• Warm-season flowering bulbs such as canna, dahlia, daylily and gladiolus.
• Vegetables including beans, okra, cucumber, peanut, pumpkin, melon and squash.
• Seedlings of pepper, tomatoes, squash, eggplant and green onion.
• Warm-to-hot-season greens such as amaranth, purslane, Malabar spinach, and Yakina Savoy lettuce can be sown now and grown through summer — just as we do, all will appreciate afternoon shade from a tall trellis, tree, or sunflowers to the west.
• Seeds for warm-season flowers such as gaillardia, salvia, sunflowers — great for the kids! and zinnia in garden beds.
• Plant container-grown roses.
• Plant new citrus and protect trunks from sunburn. Don’t fertilize when flowering.
• Plant desert landscape shrubs, cacti and succulents so that the roots re-establish before the summer heat.
• Late this month plant your summer annuals such as Vinca, Penta, Scaevola, more zinnia and other heat seeking flowers.

PRUNING

The danger of frost is past. Look for new growth on landscape and potted plants and prune winter-damaged plant parts back to new growth.

FERTILIZING

Watch for iron deficiency on citrus, pyracantha, gardenia, nandina and bottlebrush. Look for yellow leaves with green veins and apply chelated iron according to package directions.
Always water before and after applying any fertilizer.

WATERING

Adjust drip-irrigation systems to accommodate new plants and the warming temperatures.

For more information on potted gardens in the desert, visit The Contained Gardener. Have a question? Email Marylee .

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We often collect small (10 inches or less) flower pots. We get them as gifts, when we buy a small plant or flower somewhere or when we see something that just catches our eye as a wonderful art piece. Additionally, small pots are often cute and easy to carry home.

When I visit people's homes, I often find their collection of small pots scattered around the patio such as in this picture.

• Marylee, The Contained Gardener
• Sorry but ... Stupid Little Pots and a Mess!

With a little cleanup and addition of some nice shade loving plants, the area is quickly transformed into a place that is a pleasure to enjoy.

• Marylee, The Contained Gardener
• What A Difference!

For more information on potted gardens in the desert, visit The Contained Gardener. Have a question? Email Marylee

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• Photo and plant care by Martha
• winter 2011-2012

Flowers in this photo include Calendula, Allysum, Petunias, Pansies and Dusty Miller. The grass in the back pot is Purple Fountain Grass that our client did not want us to cut back. It is usually cut back in January.

With the somewhat mild winter in the Old Pueblo, our winter flowers have done very nicely. We are not going to be trying to change out the flowers for the summer until late April and throughout May. You want to make sure that you are providing your winter flowers with enough water as the temperatures heat up this month. Give any leggy plants a good haircut and be sure to keep up with a bi-weekly water soluble fertilizing.

• Photo and Plant Care by Martha
• A Contemporary Design by The Contained Gardener

Plants in this pot include Cordyline, Amazon Dianthus, Allysum, Ornamental Kale, Pansies.

For more information on potted gardens in the desert, visit The Contained Gardener. Have a question? Email Marylee.

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There is a freeze warning for Tucson and Southern Arizona for Monday night into Tuesday morning. Temperatures are predicted for 32 degrees. Your home could be 4-10 degrees cooler, especially if you live near a wash.

Plant Protection List:
~ Most plants should be plenty wet from yesterday's rains. Potted plants under a ramada or roof need to be checked to make sure the soil is damp.
~ Cover newly planted tender annuals and vegetables with frost cloth.
~ Weight them down with rocks or clothes pins.
~ Do not use towels or plastic covers.

• Potted Plant with Frost Cover

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You have seen these around town in the medians or in your home's landscape. One of my new favorite plants is the Gopher plant or Euphorbia rigida. You know we gardeners are always changing our favorite plants. I love the flowers it puts out, plus the easy care and low water nature of this plant.

• University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension
• Gopher Plant

This plant works well in containers and since it is low water, it can be hand watered weekly during the hot season and every two weeks in the winter.

Check it out and see if you have a place to put one in a pot. It will work with many color pots - so have some fun in combining colors!

For more information on potted gardens in the desert, visit The Contained Gardener. Have a question? Email Marylee.

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• Design by The Contained Gardener, Photo and Gardencare by Martha
• Winter Pot 2012

Plants included in this potted garden are Dusty Miller, Bi-color pansies, Ornamental Kale and Alyssum.

Keep plants well watered, but not over watered. Stick your finger into the soil to see if it is damp. If so, hold off on watering for another day. With the nights remaining cool, the soil will not dry out just because the temperature hits 80 during the day.

Be sure to apply your water soluble fertilizer to flowers every two weeks and keep up your deadheading!

If you are interested in how to create a dedicated pot irrigation line, register for my class on March 15 from 2:30 - 4pm. The cost is $25 and you leave with an irrigation emergency repair kit. You can call to register 733-3359 and use a credit card for payment.

For more information on potted gardens in the desert, visit The Contained Gardener. Have a question? Email Marylee

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