Sta-Green® Soils Make Planting in Small Spaces a Breeze
ATLANTA - If lack of space is the only reason for not having a garden, you no longer have an excuse. Gardens, terraces, patios, and other outdoor areas continue to entice American consumers seeking to extend the boundaries of their living spaces. Container gardening allows urban apartment and condo dwellers or homeowners with limited lawn space to enjoy plants in areas where a traditional garden is impossible. Fruits, vegetables, flowers and shrubs can be grown just about anywhere.
The popularity of container gardening is on the rise. This method of gardening includes clustering multiple pots, vertical gardening (hanging containers from a ceiling or against a wall), placing pots in flower beds, or using a landscape pro to design, plant and maintain your containers.
"Plants thrive on rooftops, decks, balconies, stairs, window sills and even stoops, and consumers appreciate that these containers can be moved easily," said Rob Rogan, business director for Sta-Green brand products. "When plants are grown in containers or pots, a media free of soil is preferred to provide an adequate balance of water, nutrients and oxygen. The Sta-Green line of growing media includes a variety of products to improve soil characteristics, providing an ideal foundation for plantings."
A container garden will need at least five hours of direct sunlight each day, and many plants will benefit from even more. In an exposed location, container plants lose moisture quickly. Some plants will need to be watered daily, especially during hot, dry weather. Various container and potting mixes include growing media that is formulated to meet the needs of specific plant types. Sta-Green potting mixes encourage beautiful blooms and lush foliage while keeping soil moist.
Planter boxes, wooden barrels, hanging baskets and large flower pots are just some of the containers that can be used. GardenGuides.com recommends the following when choosing your container:
- Choose containers with wide openings.
- Inexpensive plastic pots can deteriorate in sunlight; terracotta pots can dry out quickly.
- Glazed ceramic pots require several drainage holes.
- Wooden containers are susceptible to rot, but they can be built to use them wherever you want.
- Use containers between 15 and 120 quarts. Small pots restrict the roots and can dry out quickly.
- Use Sta-Green Moisture Max® Potting Mix to help retain moisture in the pot
- Make sure your pot drains sufficiently, with holes ½ inch across. The bottom of the pot should be lined with newspaper to prevent soil loss.
- To allow containers to drain freely, set them on bricks or blocks.
- Use light-colored containers in warmer areas to reduce the amount of heat absorbed and discourage uneven root growth.
In addition to potting soils, the Sta-Green line of growing media includes a variety of products to improve soil characteristics, providing an ideal foundation for lawn, garden and landscape plantings. These planting mixes encourage beautiful blooms and lush foliage while keeping soil moist. The planting mix products are amendments used to improve soil for in-ground gardening. Soil used in containers must be porous to ensure air and water movement around the roots for good plant health and productivity.
|
Container Type |
Container Size |
Capacity |
|
Pots |
10 inch |
6 dry qt. |
|
Pots |
14 inch |
12 dry qt. |
|
Pots |
18 inch |
28 dry qt. |
|
Hanging Baskets |
12 inch |
6 dry qt. |
|
Hanging Baskets |
16 inch |
10 dry qt. |
|
Window Boxes and Planters |
24 x 6 x 6 in. |
12 dry qt. |
|
Window Boxes and Planters |
36 x 6 x 6 in. |
20 dry qt. |
|
Window Boxes and Planters |
48 x 6 x 6 in. |
24 dry qt. |
Sta-Green growing media products available include:
· All Purpose Potting Mix with Fertilizer - A growing media for container-grown indoor and outdoor plants
· Premium Container Mix with Fertilizer - Encourages beautiful blooms and lush foliage
· Moisture Max® Potting Mix with Fertilizer - Protects against under- and overwatering
· Flower & Vegetable Planting Mix - Ready-to-use soil for planting flowers, vegetables and herbs in flower beds and gardens
· Nursery Blend® Tree & Shrub Planting Mix - Helps improve soil drainage and aeration while providing nutrition for new transplants
· Seed & Sod® Starter Soil - Formulated for starting new lawns, repairing bare spots and encouraging strong root systems
· Premium Mulch with Weed Stop® - First ever combination mulch with herbicide; controls weeds up to 4 months
A container garden can be every bit as satisfying and enjoyable as a traditional one. There are no rules for designing a container garden. Choosing and combining plants to grow in containers is a great way to experiment with garden design.
About Sta-Green® Products
Sta-Green® lawn care products and gardening supplies provide practical solutions for seasonal lawn and garden needs at value prices. Sta-Green products are available exclusively at Lowe's and come with a written guarantee printed on every package and label. From lawn fertilizers to insect, disease and weed control, Sta-Green products are the perfect blend of science and technology at an affordable price. Sta-Green is the Official Lawn and Garden partner of Busch Gardens and a sponsor of the American Junior Golf Association.
About United Industries Corporation
United Industries Corporation is a subsidiary of Spectrum Brands, Inc., and is a leading supplier of lawn and garden care products and household insect and pest controls. Spectrum Brands is a global consumer products company whose merchandise is sold by the world's top 25 retailers and is available in more than one million stores in more than 120 countries around the world. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Spectrum Brands generated FY2007 net sales of approximately $2.0 billion. The company's stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SPC.