Could you give me some suggestions for planting flowers in tubs and hanging baskets?
Make sure that your containers all have drainage holes. If you are reusing last year’s soil, loosen it with a hand trowel all the way to the bottom. Some people prefer to dump old soil into ground beds and start with new potting soil. The best potting soils allow water to move into the soil quickly and have peat moss or other materials that hold moisture. Some potting soils contain slow-release fertilizer or water-absorbing crystals, which increase the soil’s water holding capacity. If you buy crystals to add to your soil, thoroughly mix them through the entire soil volume.
Decide where you are going to place containers and then choose flowers based upon their sun and shade requirements. Use shade-tolerant varieties for containers that are placed where they get no direct sunlight or they only get a few hours of sunlight. Shade plants are best for containers that get only some morning sun. Use full-sun plants where containers get at least a half day of sun or get mostly afternoon sun.
Most nurseries and garden stores have a special section of potted flowers especially selected for containers. Many have trailing or spreading growth. Nonflowering plants with colorful leaves are often mixed in. A single upright plant is often added to the center of large tubs and pots to give some height.
