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Container Maintenance
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A
checklist for caring for your containers
For a beautiful,
productive garden, keeping your containers in good shape is as important
as keeping your plants healthy. Containers that are left outside
year round are bound to show signs of wear and tear eventually.
Here are a few ways to slow the breakdown process:
- Treat wood
or metal with non-toxic stain, paint, or waterproofing agent.
- Line insides
of containers that are susceptible to rot with black plastic (with
holes in bottom for drainage).
- Reinforce
joints of wooden containers with extra rust-proof nails.
- Keep bottoms
of containers raised off of ground for better drainage to prevent
water damage.
- Keep an eye
on perennials with expanding roots.
- Repot as
needed to prevent plants from splitting their containers.
- Bring pots
inside or insulate them in winter to prevent freezing and thawing.
- Don't put
pots where kids, pets, or other natural disasters might strike
them.
- Clean out
containers with bleach and soapy water after you use them.
- Store all
unused containers in a dry, protected place until you need them.
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