Container Gardens - Keeping Them Looking Good

Wiese Acres Petunias

Even with the right soil, the right plants, proper watering, and fertilizing, container plants need grooming to continue to look their best.  Grooming consists of pinching, deadheading, and general clean-up activities to keep only the healthiest parts of the plant on display.

Pinching is the process of cutting or pinching off the growing tip of a plant.  This process is used when a plant becomes too tall and leggy;  anytime you want to encourage a plant to become fuller and bushier; of if you want to maintain a specific shape with your plant.  Pinching will also help keep in check the growth of any of those plants that want to take over your container world.

To "pinch", you simply grasp the small portion of the plant you wish to remove between your fingers and snip it off, either with your fingernails or a small shears.  For soft stemmed plants, your fingernails will work just fine, although that is why my fingernails seem to have developed a permanent green tinge by the end of the summer.  If you don't like the idea of green fingernails, or for woodier stemmed plants, like vines, a small pruning shears works great.  If you want to create a bushy plant, you might need to do this on several stem ends.  Pinching does not need to be done daily - only when the plant starts to look like it could benefit from being shortened and fattened up a bit.

Deadheading is the process of removing old flower heads from your plants.  These spent heads are not only less beautiful than the flower itself, but they can also harbor diseases and undesirable insects.  In addition, as the spent flower head remains on the plant, it begins to develop seeds.  When the plant begins to put its energy into seed development, it has less to nourish new and existing flowers so your plant may stop blooming.  Deadheading can also be done either with your fingers or with a grooming shears.  The entire flower stalk should be removed, though, so for many plants, this is most easily accomplished with a shears. 

Geraniums are one frequently used container plant that it is best to snap the spent flower stalk off with your fingers, rather than using a shears.  The geranium has a thick, fleshy stem that is easily damaged by shears and the flower stalk is attached to the stem in a way that it easily snaps off with just a little tug.



Wiese Acres Begonias

There are some plants which are considered "self-cleaning" and don't require deadheading.  Million bells, begonias, vincas and impatiens fall into this category.  Now, even though they are self-cleaing,  the spent flower actually falls off the stem and should be removed from the area to avoid harboring diseases.

Other than pinching and deadheading, checking for pests and diseases and removing the occasional damaged leaf or flower should keep your containers looking great. 

Grooming your container plants is relatively easy to do and doesn't require much time.  Whenever I walk by my containers, I snip or tug a few less than beautiful spots.  I often will carry a small bag or pail with me when I am walking the yard with my morning coffee and just pinch and drop.

Starting with the right type of container, using the right soil mix, choosing the right plants, then watering, fertilizing, and grooming appropriately will help you build containers that will provide beauty and enjoyment all season long.