Here are some ideas I've used successfully in my container garden.
One of the best ways to utilize a container is to plant bulbs and spring flowers in the fall. Spring bulbs are the most effective in gardens that have winter temperatures that dip below freezing.
In the fall, you can take a variety of bulbs like daffodils and tulips and grape hyacinth and plant them deep in the container. Remember to check your bulb packet to see how deeply you should be planting them.
Then, to top off the container, you suggest you that plant pansies. Pansies are a kind of flower that can easily go from fall to spring without having to re-plant.
Even if you live in the harshest winters, you can still plant pansies in the fall and throw a load of mulch over them for heavy winters. When spring comes, your garden will overflow with pansies starting to bounce back and this will add beautiful color around your tall bulb stems.
If you stay in a place that is populated with moles, voles and squirrels and yet you love tulips, container planting is your answer. To create a gorgeous complement to your tulips, you can interplant them with daffodils and hyacinth.
Another terrific use for window and deck boxes for container gardening is to grow herbs and annuals in them. Just remember that window and deck boxes will dry out much faster because they are more shallow than other containers. Specially in summer, you have keep a good eye on the dryness and use a good water retention potting mix. Watering in the early morning is best way for water retention.
Next, you can try container vegetable gardening. Common vegetables like tomatoes, lettuce, peas and bush beans are grown in containers and raised beds. Sometimes, some vegetables can be grown in between flowers and bulbs which gives your container texture and make things look more interesting and useful.
If you'd like to grow tomatoes in a container and your space is limited, make sure you choose a container large enough to hold a couple of plants. Use tomato stakes and garden Velcro to keep everything upright and growing well. You can find tomato containers that are self-watering in home centers, catalogs and on the Net. They're great for a deck or patio.
Here is a tip on growing tomatoes in a container:
Get a bigger one that can last you many seasons so that you can rotate your tomatoes year after year.
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