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· Universal Gardening"Gardening because of a disability or age is the worst thing
that can happen to gardeners.
Never having the chance to reap the many benefits of this hobby is a close second."
Rothert, 1996
Gardening provides many benefits to individuals, young and old, with all abilities and talents, including healthy exercise and a source of enjoyment and relaxation. Container and raised beds provide flexibility and waste of gardening for an individual who finds traditional gardening difficult. Container gardening works well for those who have limited space, such as an apartment or retirement home, or for individuals who find in the ground gardening too strenuous. With a little bit of planning and a lot of creativity, you can have containers filled with the many annuals, perennials and vegetables you can have in the traditional garden.
Special considerations need to be taken into account when planting with containers. The type of container you use is limitless. The soil used will determine your success in successfully growing plants. Containers are exposed more easily to extreme weather conditions and need more frequent watering, and need better protection from harsh winter conditions.
There are many considerations in deciding which container to use. For many individuals with functional limitations, containers need to be lightweight, easily reached and portable. For someone in a wheelchair, plant containers need to be easily accessible and within easy reach. A height of 22"-24" is optimal for someone in a wheelchair or scooter. Match your container to what you want to grow. Small plants can be grown in smaller containers, whereas, larger plants need to be planted in larger pots. Many materials can be used for containers, depending on one imagination and ease of gardening.
Soil is perhaps the most important ingredient for successful container gardening. Regular soil is not recommended for containers. Potting soil and soilless mixes are recommended for containers. Potting soils are composed of organic material and mineral parts. Organic parts may contain one or a combination of any two parts such as peat moss, fir bark, redwood sawdust, shavings, pine bark, or hardwood bark. Minerals may include one or a combination of vermiculite, perlite, pumice, builder' s sand, or granite sand with vermiculite, perlite and sand being the most commonly used. Vermiculite is a mica material, which expands under heat, and the granules retain water in air spaces. Perlite also expands under heat but water is retained around the granules instead of in them. Perlite retains water and provides a lighter soil through aeration. Aeration is critical for root development and plant growth. The following are some recipes for making your own soil mix (taken from University Extension and the Missouri Botanical Gardens):
A good idea to remember is to wet your soil mix before using it. A simple solution is to pour water directly into the bag of soil mixture and knead until the mix is evenly moist. You can leave the mixture overnight to allow the moisture to be evenly distributed. The mixture will be easier to work with in the containers.
When purchasing plants from a garden center or nursery, be sure to keep the soil moist until you are ready to repot the plant. Never pull the plants directly from the containers. Squeeze the plant from the bottom or the container to push the rootball up. You can tap a larger container to loosen the plant from the original pot.
If necessary, prune the roots that have formed outside of the rootball by making 3 or 4 cuttings on the side of the rootball with sharp knife. Your plant will form new roots and root development will be accelerated. Transplant the plant into a new container by holding the plant at the same level as the container and place soil around the rootball. Keep the soil moist until roots have spread to surrounding soil.
Plants in containers need to have fertilizer replaced regularly as there is a tendency for potting soils to drain water more rapidly, causing the fertilizer to be washed out. Some gardeners prefer to fertilize every other time they water. If you are using liquid fertilizer, then only use 1/4 of the rate recommended on packaging. Plants do not need a large amount of fertilizer, but consistency is important. Many gardeners use timed-release fertilizers available in three-month or twelve-month formulas. Fertilizer is released in small amounts, as the plant needs them.
Container plants need to be watered more frequently than traditional in the ground plants. There are no prescribed timeframe for watering plants. Weather conditions, the type of potting mix used and the pot used will determine how frequently you need to water. Check plants on a regular basis and look for signs such as wilting which indicates the need for water and yellowing of the leaves, which may indicate that you are over watering. Check the top 3/4-inch of the pot to see if the soil is dry. Water the plant thoroughly until water comes out of the bottom of the container.
Insects and disease can be a problem due to plants growing under more stressful conditions and they have a limited root system. Control measures will be the same as for conventional gardening practices.
As we prepare for the winter season, many perennial plants in containers will need special care to prevent winter stress. Large permanent planters containing winter hardy plants will need little protection if the drainage in the container is good. Smaller containers that are moveable, should be moved to a protected outdoor location or to cooler sites such as an unheated garage. Annual plants, such a s geraniums, begonias and coleus can be bought inside or cutting made to start new plants for the following year. Tropical plants, such as tropical hibiscus will not survive the winter and need to be bought indoors.
Watering plants continue to be important during the fall and winter months. Before the ground freezes, water all container plants thoroughly. Check the plants throughout the winter. When the temperatures are above freezing and the ground is thawed, water plants. Soil in containers will not only dry out more frequently, but will freeze and thaw out more frequently than in the ground plants.
Containers and planter boxes that are attached to the house will dry out even more because of the heat loss from the house. If containers are protected with overhangs, plants will not get adequate moisture from snow and rain.
Applying mulch to container plants will help prevent drying out and provide insulation from the winter cold. A rock mulch can be used if there is potential for termite damage or fire. Straw bales provide insulation for containers left outdoors to prevent roots from severe temperature changes.
Don't forget to take precautions for empty containers. Small containers made from clay, plastic or metal need to have the soil removed and the containers cleaned in a weak solution of 10 parts water and 1 part bleach. Store the containers indoors or if left outdoors, turn upside down in a protected place. Winter freezing and thawing may crack the containers if water is left standing in them. Wooden containers should not have the soil removed as the wood may dry out and shrink if empty.
Rothert, Gene, Enabling Garden: Creating Barrier-Free Gardens, Taylor Publishing, Dallas, TX. 1994
Adil, Janeen R., Accessible Gardening for People with Physical Disabilities: A Guide to Methods, Tools, and Plants, Woodbine House, Bethesda, MD. 1994
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