Gardening · Practical guide

Your first container garden: start with one suitable pot

Start a container garden by matching one plant to the available light, pot size and watering you can manage.

Observe the proposed spot at several points during the day. Note direct sun, shade, wind and access to water. Choose a plant suited to those conditions before buying a decorative container, and check its mature size on a reliable growing guide.

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Build around drainage

Use a container with suitable drainage and a growing medium appropriate to the plant. Check the RHS container guidance and the plant label rather than assuming ordinary garden soil suits every pot. The pot must have room for the roots and be stable in its intended position.

Place it where draining water will not damage surfaces or affect neighbours. On balconies or raised structures, confirm permitted loads and building rules before adding large heavy containers.

Make watering easy

Check moisture in the growing medium, rather than watering because the top looks dry from a distance. Conditions change with weather, plant growth and container material. Set a regular time to inspect the pot while adjusting watering to what you find.

Begin with one or two containers so you learn the routine. A large display bought at once can create a watering commitment before you know which plants suit the location.

A small first shopping list

One plant matched to the site's light and exposure.
A suitable drained container and growing medium.
A convenient way to check and water it.

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Plant pot

Choose drainage, stability and root space before decorative shape. Include the filled weight and where water will drain, particularly when placing pots above ground level.

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Watering can

A manageable can is useful when the tap is distant. Choose a size you can carry when full and a spout that reaches the pot without soaking leaves or nearby belongings.