The best ways to plant trellis, perennial on containers and railings

There are various plant containers and they all come in different shapes, colours and sizes. There are clay, ceramic pots, glazed or unglazed, boxes, toughs and urns made out of wood, concrete, plastic or stone bowls and hanging containers. The container should be large enough to allow the plant to fully develop. Do not use heavy containers if you are going to hang them up. Use frost proof containers and ensure that they have drainage holes.

Planting In Boxes

  • An ideal box would be 15cm (6 inches) wide and 20 cm (8 inches) deep. Follow the rules below:

  • Ensure that drainage holes are present

  • Insert a 5cm (2 inches) drainage layer of gravel in the bottom

  • Lay a interfacing fabric on the drainage layer this prevents washing away of compost

  • Add compost and insert the plant

  • Fill the container with compost and press down

  • Add water

How to plant in larger containers

  • Cover the drainage hole with large pieces of broken pot

  • Insert a 5cm (2 inches) thick drainage layer of gravel or Hortag

  • Add 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) of compost in the pot

  • Insert the climbing plant and arrange it on its support in the pot

  • Place the plant slightly slanting in the pot

  • Add compost and water

Hanging baskets

  • Line the base of the basket with water retaining sphagnum

  • Lay a piece of polythene sheet in the basket the piece should overlap the edge of the basket by about 10cm (4 inches)

  • Cut cross shaped slits or holes in the sheet. This is where the plant will be inserted

  • Add plant compost- to just below the edge

  • Insert the side plants from the outside through the layer of moss and sheeting. Press the compost down firmly around the roots

  • Insert the plant and water carefully

  • Add a means of hanging up the basket

Planting in hanging containers - Do not use a heavy containers and it should be easy to hang up

  • Ensure that there are drainage holes

  • Insert a drainage layer

  • Add compost and insert the plant

  • Either water or deep the container in water

  • Ensure that the container is hung from a stable fixture

Climbing plants on a house wall - Soil close to the wall is usually dense and thus it needs to be thoroughly prepared.

  • When planting annuals, dig soil to a depth of 30cm (12 inches) and loosen it. Perennials require 50cm (20 inches) in depth.

  • Add sand to clay-rich soil and compost to sandy soil to make it ideal for the plant to grow

  • Cover the damp course material along the wall with polythene pond lining material to prevent water from penetrating

  • Lean the plant toward the support

  • Add soil and water to the hole

  • Cover the soil with garden compost or bark mulch