There are many ways to go about container gardening and the most effective is through composting. Compost is an important aspect of garden maintenance, as it takes all the soil matter and turns it into a fertilizer that is necessary for plant life. It is an invaluable addition to your gardening arsenal, as you will be sure to have a supply of healthy, rich soil in the future.
Before you embark on container gardening, determine what type of soil you would like to use. You can plant directly into a pile or compost pile of ground cover, such as cattails, for example, but if you are using a sloped area, then it is a good idea to test the ground to be sure that there is sufficient depth for planting in.
If there is no mound to place the container in, plant with grass clippings. Although it may seem wasteful, in the long run, the grass clippings will prove to be very helpful.
The best approach for container gardening is one that is creative and keeps you busy and occupied. This way, you can become proficient in the art of container gardening and the skills necessary to maintain a well-maintained compost pile. Working with the soil and the container is just part of the process, which includes planting, trimming, weeding, and watering.
Whether you use a pick, shovel, rake, or shovel, be sure to make use of small tools such as a wire brush, weed eater, and tiller, depending on the amount of soil that you have. Using several small tools will help you maintain the potting shed in an organized manner.
Start by digging a hole of about six inches in diameter and about two feet deep in the center of your container. Then, fill the hole with the appropriate soil, preferably about an inch and a half deep and a couple of inches from the top of the container. Be sure to make the hole about an inch deeper than the height of the container you are going to put in and add about an inch to the depth of the soil, depending on the amount of soil that you intend to put in the pile. When you are finished, you will be left with a container about three feet long and two and a half feet tall.
Next, prepare the garden bed. You can do this with a garden fork, soil tool, rake, garden shears, or garden gloves, if you prefer.
Digging will require digging a trench about four to six inches deep. It should be about an inch deep, but if it is, you will need to add more soil than you originally purchased, as you do not want the soil under the surface to become compacted.
With your soil filled, start digging toward the center of the container. Do not try to dig straight down as the roots of the plants that you are going to plant will push up through the hole you have made, blocking the way for water and nutrients. However, the plants should begin to grow at the edges of the hole as the roots begin to emerge.
After the holes are dug, dig a second trench, about three inches deep, which you will fill with the new soil. Continue digging a third trench, as you place the container in the middle of the first two.
Fill the remaining space with soil, leaving a little under the rim of the container to provide for drainage. Plant the container in the middle of the first two trenches and tamp the soil firmly into place, creating a large hole.