Whether you live in an apartment with a small balcony or on a country estate with acres of land, container gardens have their place. Container gardening gives you the luxury of having colors, shapes, sizes and textures exactly where you want them and container choices are almost endless. Plants will grow in most anything that holds soil and has good drainage, so don't overlook that old coal scuttle with holes in the bottom or that wooden crate sitting in your garage. Let your imagination be your guide. Just make sure the container will hold enough soil for your plants to get what they need. Remember, if a pot is too big, plants will often spend all their efforts growing roots instead of beautiful flowers. Of course, an easy solution for that problem is to add more plants!

Containers
It doesn't take much looking to find an amazing selection of containers available in various shapes, sizes and materials, all of them with their merits. Just keep in mind that growing in a container is easy, but it is not nature's way. Your container will need to hold sufficient soil to support your annuals throughout the growing season.

Generally, the larger the container, the happier your plants will be and the more freedom you will have to create mixed plantings. Larger containers also are more stable against wind and pets. The most important consideration beyond size is esthetics – choose containers that complement the surroundings and the plants.

• Clay has weight for stability, breathes, is affordable and provides traditional style and beauty.
It should be stored inside for the winter, and with care, it can last decades.

• Plastic containers come in hundreds of shapes, colors and sizes. It is a lightweight choice for ease in moving and storing. plastic is also inexpensive and holds moisture longer than most other containers. Most plastic pots can stay outdoors all year if needed, but will last longer if stored indoors. Life expectancy is about two years.

• Wood adds its own unique style to containers and is medium weight, porous and moderately expensive. Wood containers can stay outdoors and, if made of rot-resistant lumber, can last 10 or more years.

• Concrete containers are heavy, come in a variety of finishes and styles, and are usually an affordable alternative for large pots. Concrete can stay out all year and lasts for decades.

Potting Soils
The potting soil that you use to fill your containers really does make a difference. It makes sense to provide those beautiful plants you are putting in your pots with soil in which they can thrive, not just survive. A good potting medium for containers should be light and able to hold water without packing. When you squeeze a handful, it should spring back.  That heavy, black stuff that comes in big, cheap bags labeled as potting soil is not a bargain. It practically takes a fork lift to move a big pot filled with it. If it ever dries out, it gets as hard as concrete. When you do get it wet, it either stays wet and soggy forever or dries out as soon as you turn your back. Do yourself and your plants a favor and buy the good stuff!

Choosing Your Annuals
It's hard to beat annuals for color and success in container gardening. What can be hard is choosing which varieties to use. The most important consideration is how much sun your planter will receive and how much care you will be able to provide. Once you have chosen the plants that will be the focus of your planter, be sure to include something that will cascade over the edges, giving your containers a finished appearance. Vinca vine and asparagus fern accomplish this task well, but don't forget all the different ivies. In order to make your containers appear full and lush early in the season, include a few extra annuals (such as pansies and lobelia) that will finish blooming as your main plants mature. Don't overlook the striking foliage of plants like caladiums, dusty miller and coleus. Since containers usually are placed in prominent locations, you may want to plan on a spring/early summer planting and a summer/fall planting. Here are suggestions for ways to combine some of the old standards and new favorites.

Care for Annuals in Containers
Caring for your containers is easy.  Remember, they will dry out more quickly than plants in the ground and will need you to provide regular feeding, preferably with a water soluble fertilizer.