Deck Gardens- Starting With the Right Products and Tools

Deck gardens are a beautiful way to enjoy the day outside gardening even with limited yard space. But thats not the only benefit, deck gardens will improve your deck’s beauty by making it more varied and colorful. Also, Plants and flowers that are in containers are less prone to weeds, moles, and certain types of bugs. If you want a deck that is colorful and unique for the summer, then you and your green thumb better get started! Starting your garden with the right products and tools will help eliminate problems later in the season.

Effective Containers:

The first thing you’ll need to do is get a container. Containers for deck gardens come in all sizes, shapes, styles, and varieties. The most important thing is that they are effective for growing plants.

To ensure the container you have selected is effective, look for these signs:

Drainage hole(s)
Durable material
Proper size for the plant
Proper shape for the plant (Example: Carrots need vertical pots, not angled.)

If a pot does not already have drainage holes, you can add them yourself with a drill if they are made of wood or plastic. For larger containers (5 gallons or more) it is also a good idea to add a layer of gravel rocks to the bottom to assist with proper water flow. What I do is ask the floweriest how large the plant or flower with grow, and when is the best time to change the flowers pots to a larger one (You can also look up this information online).

Quality Seeds:

If your gonna put in the work, your gonna wanna see some payoff- and your best bets will be with a quality seeds. Seed germination rates are greatly improved when using a high quality seed. Of course, there are the famous brand names with beautiful catalogs. However, there are also some alternative places to obtain good seeds.

Listia – Listia is like a free version of Ebay. Individuals place items up to trade for points, then those points can be used to obtain other items. Many organic farmers have begun listing their heirloom seeds for auction on this site.
Farmer’s Market – Some nurseries sell seeds directly at the farmer’s market. In other cases, you may inquire of a favorite farmer if they are “seed savers.” If so, ask if they would be willing to sell some of their favorite varieties. Since these farmers produce large quantities, they certainly know about successful germination rates!
“Dollar” Store – Many home gardeners report great success with seeds purchased at “dollar” discount stores. These seed packets are very affordable, but inspect well for updated Use-By dates and proper sealing of envelope.

Nearby Water Source:

For an easy to maintain deck garden, you’ll want to consider the location of the nearest water source. Some climates will provide naturally through sufficient rain. However, most gardeners will need to supplement with a water source. Plants in containers need watering more regularly than those in the ground. I usually water the plants right when I get home, right before reading or talking with the family on the deck. It’s a great way to spend some time outside relaxing or catching up with loved ones.

Also, don’t forget to ask a friend or neighbor to water the plants if you’ll be gone for more than 3 days or so!