Derrick Meek of The GreenSeason Group demonstrates planting a container garden for shady areas.

The April showers that bring May flowers got an early start when the rain came late March moving The Georgia Club’s Container Gardening seminar inside.   But, the mood was optimistic as gardeners gathered to learn suggestions for the upcoming planting season. The container gardening seminar was led by Derrick Meek and Tracy Lynn King of The GreenSeason Group.

Several suggestions were provided on plants featuring color and texture for shady areas, as well as those for sunny areas. Topics of the discussion included using plenty of texture for the space, using color, selecting a planter, making sure it has adequate drainage (in addition to drainage holes, make sure the bottom is lined with pebbles so water can drain through), and make sure you use soil specific for potting plants (these typically contain vermiculite to retain moisture).

The GreenSeason Group recommended several plants for shady areas including Japanese Aralia, Evergold (Golden Sedge), English Ivy, and Variegated Ivy (all were used in picture to right). The recommended plants for sunny areas included Lamb’s Ear, Firewitch Dianthus, White Delight Creeping Phlox, Bertram Anderson Stonecrop and Golden Creeping Jenny. For a complete list of the attributes of these plants, and for other recommendations, please the The GreenSeason’s Group List of Container Gardening Plants.  The planters came coutesy of The GreenSeason Group from Smith & Hawken.

Derrick Meek, Executive Landscaper with The Green Season Group, has offered to share his knowledge on the subject of herb gardens in response to a question from our previous post. We asked Members and readers to leave a question in the comments for him to answer and this was the question:

“Can you provide advice for growing herbs in containers outside during the summer, then transferring indoors for the winter?”

Derrick says:

“Growing herbs in containers is a great idea.  Many of the herbs are small and tend to get lost in the landscape; growing them in containers allows easier access and better viewing.  Container gardening is especially suited for those herbs that require good drainage and for those that are more tender and need to moved indoors when it turns cold.

The herbs that are less cold hardy must go through an acclimatized process in early fall, otherwise the plant may not adjust to its new environment resulting in mortality.  Gradually move the herbs inside for a few hours over a period of several days so they can get adjusted to the differences in temperature and light exposure.  Herbs growing indoors should be treated differently than those out-of-doors. One of the biggest problems is providing sufficient light to keep the plants from getting spindly. Grow them in the sunniest location you have or under fluorescent lights. Since the plants will not be using as much water as they did outdoors, water only when the soil is dry; apply enough water so that some drains out the bottom of the pot. Avoid overwatering which will cause the roots to rot. Check the plants frequently for aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies which are common pests on herbs grown indoors.

Good luck and happy gardening!

If you frequent The Georgia Club you have surely seen executive landscaper Derrick Meek’s team from The Green Season Group pruning and mowing, trimming and clearing to keep the community in tip top landscaping shape. But do you ever wonder why they wait until a certian month to trim back some of your shrubs? Or the best plants to weather the drought we are in?

Here is your chance to get all the answers from an expert! Submit your questions by leaving a comment on this post by Monday, March 23, and Derrick will pick the best questions to answer in an upcoming  blog post.

Don’t forget about the free Container Gardening Seminar that Derrick will lead on Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. We welcome non-members, and you can register by calling The Georgia Club at 770-725-8100.