34 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday April 25, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com How to welcome Spring into your garde with Container gardening Growing plants in containers is a great way to provide instant colour and drama into your garden. Choose a container You can be creative and look around your home for interesting containers. Think about recycling a wooden crate or an old watering can. There are also many traditional containers available in terra-cotta, cement or plastic. Choose larger pots (14 to 18 inches wide) for mixing and matching several different plants. Smaller containers require more frequent watering Containers must have drainage holes. You may need to drill holes in nontraditional pots. To plant in wooden crates or baskets, line the container first with landscape fabric. Use the Best Soil Parkwood Potting Mix works well as it is a potting soil that's specifically blended for container growing What to plant There are some great choices now available. Primulas, Pansies and Ranunculus offer immediate colour and are frost tolerant. Osteospermum, a beautiful plant native to South Africa is also a great choice and is now available at Oakville's Sheridan Nurseries in purple, fuchsia and white. More tips for success Watering: Most container plantings tend to dry out quickly and will need very regular watering; during hot spells they may even need to be watered twice a day Fertilizing There are organic fertilizers available that can safely be used on container plantings Maintenance: Deadheading will keep flowers looking fresh and prolong blooming, and removing dead leaves will help control pests. For more information about Spring containers and your garden, call 905.844.7336 Celebrating 15 years of serving elated clients with exceptional quality and value. 466 Speers Road Oakville dl Oakville's Natural Stone Supplier Contractor Referral Program W in 905-339-2223 pe Up rM id sto n Ch ur ch ill 905-339-2223 www.kcabinets.com 2339 Cornwall Rd., East of Ford Drive Ph: 905-849-5557 www.bouders.ca Monday - Friday 7am-5:30pm, Saturday 7:30am-3pm Co 111 Brockley Drive Hamilton Ford D r. lW Ro rn w ya al Ford Motor Company of Canada in ds or BOULDERS STONE SUPPLY Providing A Full Line of Premium Grade Stone Products For Pools · Patios · Walkways · Retaining Walls · Gardens Bl vd . e Dr . Rd . lR Fo d. rd Dr .