By the end of the summer, hanging baskets and containers often suffer from “burn out.” Flowers fade and the plants are exhausted from the effort of flowering, despite your tender care! But it’s possible to boost your baskets for a final flourish. Lightly trim them with a pair of shears to remove flowers and any [...]

Containers give you another opportunity to use your imagination! Clean up colorful old paint cans, removing oil-based paint with white spirit and warm soapy water, and punch several drainage holes in the base with a nail and you have a simple, attractive, low-cost container. Galvanized buckets can take the place of more expensive contemporary containers. [...]

Any vegetables can be grown in containers, though deep-rooted ones such as parsnips, those with a long growing season, like Brussels sprouts, or those needing plenty of space, such as pumpkins, are more challenging. The best for pots are fast-growing summer crops such as French beans, peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, stallions, beet, carrots, turnips, lettuces, and [...]