Good morning to everyone and Happy Saturday! Saturday is often the busiest day of the week. It is the day we plan things to do, getting out shopping, going hiking, visiting a park, maybe weekend camping. Or sometimes we just lay back and relax on a warm summer Saturday. Maybe doing some gardening, whether that is vegetables or flowers.

Even those of us who have no yard space, but do have a deck or balcony, we can still enjoy some minor gardening in containers. I have done well with growing tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots and onions in containers on my deck. Plus flowers. I love growing flowers of all kinds. Some do better in containers than others however, but it is amazing how many different flowers can be grown in containers.

A nice bright red petunia.

But they dry out much more quickly in containers, so they need to be watered more frequently and fertilized regularly so they will grow and bloom nicely. It is hard to beat petunias for a good choice in container gardening. Also marigolds and geraniums. Zinnias are another good choice. All of these like lots of sun, but will still do well with less sunny locations, they just need a little extra care.

In a container next to the red petunia is this purple petunia.

It is quite possible to grow most any flower in containers on the deck by just knowing a few tips and tricks to get things done correctly right from the start. Even a rose bush can be grown in a container and will do very well and bloom nicely all summer. But you need to start with the right variety. Mini roses are a good choice too, but they do need extra care to survive and thrive.

Ideally you want plants that will produce flowers all summer long, and if you are a busy person in the summer, then you want flowers that do not need that extra care element. You do not even need to buy all new containers to use. Be inventive and use things that you might already have, like old plastic containers.

This year I only have geraniums in my container garden.

Give them a coat of paint to match them, make holes in the bottom for good drainage, something that is essential especially if you get a lot of rain suddenly. You do not want those containers filling up with water. Wood boxes work well too and add a rustic appeal to your container garden.

They come in quite a variety of colors and are very easy to grow.

It is nice to sit on the deck surrounded by your container garden and just relax, enjoying the beauty. There is very heavy smoke in the air again today, blocking the sun, and making it a bit cooler than it would be if the sun was shining fully. There is just a very light breeze out there, so it feels nice, even without the sun.

They even come in a “double” variety which makes them look like mini roses.

Not the best for photos however, but I will try anyway. There are still some insects out there I would like to photograph, if they are still around. Sometimes insects hide when the sun is not shining. Well, I do hope you have a wonderful weekend everyone and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2023 Steve McLeod.