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Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Tim Butler

Just about any location will work for a container garden – from urban rooftops and balconies to more traditional backyard spaces.

There are all kinds of reasons for gardening in containers. Maybe you don’t have anywhere else for plants other than a patio, or perhaps you’re new to digging in the dirt and think a few containerized beauties is an easy way to get started. No matter what got you interested, container gardening is a great introduction to the world of plants.

In many ways, container gardens are easier to prepare and tend than open gardens, but there are other ways in which they can be more demanding, too – particularly when considering your choice of plantings and containers and laying your groundwork. That’s where a checklist comes in handy – or a planning flowchart. It sums up the main questions to ask yourself before you get started, so you can grow the garden of your dreams. Take a few minutes to go through these questions and jot down the answers. It’ll save you time, money and a few trips to the garden center in the long run.

Planning Your Project – Questions About Your Site

• Is your container garden for an indoor or outdoor space?
• Where will your proposed container garden be located, both geographically and within your yard or home (on a windowsill, roof deck, patio, front porch, etc.).
• What will its exposure be to light and shade?
• What are the usual wind, temperature and humidity conditions of that location?
• Do you want to visually enlarge the area or make it more intimate?
• Have you identified your USDA Hardiness Zone, and are you familiar with any microclimates in your yard? (And if not, do you know how to contact you local Extension Office if you have questions?)