Summer is usually the most beautiful and productive time for your container garden. But high heat and dry weather can also stress your garden and, if steps aren't taken, can ruin all the work and love you put into your garden. Here are some easy steps you can take to protect your container garden so you can enjoy it all season long.

Initial Steps: Container Choice and Potting Soil
Choosing the right container can make the difference between a bountiful garden and disappointment. If you live in a hot area, especially one with dry winds, choose non-porous containers for your garden. Glazed pottery is one of the best choices for hot-area gardening, as the glaze keeps the moisture in the pot and the ceramic insulates from heat. Terra cotta and wood are also good insulators, but allow the soil inside to dry out faster than non-porous containers. If you like the look of terra cotta or wood, use a sealer to make them non-porous, or us plastic containers or liners inside of them to hold the water. (Be sure you have proper drainage holes in the bottom).

Self-watering containers are also an excellent choice. Many types of self-watering pots are now available, and the double-walled plastic are a good choice – the double wall provides insulation from heat and the self-watering means your plants can take up the water they need when they need it.

No matter what type of container you choose, be sure it is large enough for your plants when they reach full size. If in doubt it is best to error on the side of too-large of a container, as larger containers will dry slower than small ones.

Your choice of potting soil is also very important. Choose or mix a good, loose, fertile soil with plenty of material to hold water, such as perlite, vermiculite, or the new water-holding polymers.


On-going Care: Protecting From Heat and Dry Weather
Mulch
Adding a 2 to 4 inch top layer of mulch to your containers will greatly increase the moisture retention and help your plants survive the hottest days. Shredded bark, wood or bark chips, and straw are all great mulches. If growing vegetables, consider using some of the red plastic mulch designed for tomatoes. The red reflects the color of light most easily absorbed and used by plants to create chlorophyll. I've used the red mulch with great success in my container vegetable garden – combined with self-watering planters I've had great harvests of melons, cucumbers, eggplant, beans, peppers, and tomatoes.

Water Deeply
When you water your plants, be sure to completely wet all the soil in your containers. Any area of dry soil will wick away moisture from the wet areas, leaving less water for your plants. Also, deep watering will encourage your plants to grow deep roots, keeping them further away from the surface when it does dry out. Water again when the soil is dry to ½ inch for shallow containers, or to 1 inch for deep ones.
For self-watering containers, never let the reservoir dry out. If it does, water your container from the top to completely dampen the soil, then fill the reservoir.

Consider installing a drip watering system or soaker hose rings for your containers. You can run it manually, turning on and off as needed, or install a timer system. It is best to water in the early morning when the weather is still relatively cool – the water will have time to soak into the soil before the heat hits, and your plants will have the water they need during the hottest part of the day.

Protect From Wind
Wind will dry out your plants faster than heat – protect your plants from wind by placing them in a protected area, or by erecting a trellis or other wind-break.

Provide Shade
If you live in an especially hot climate, provide your plants partial shade during the hottest part of the day. If you cannot move the plants to an area with mid-afternoon shade, place or build a lattice work or cloth screen shade to protect your plants from the mid-day sun.

Self-Watering Planters at Gardeners Supply