Discover the joy of container gardening

I came upon the joy of container gardening 10 years ago when I knew I'd be moving from my fully planted home garden and half-acre nursery garden.

I immediately stopped planting in the ground, which is when I discovered just about any plant can look great in a pot. It's only a matter of choosing the right container.

I happily plant up anything that will contain a growing medium, from olive-oil cans to old boots, even when it means I have to punch drainage holes out first. Container gardening is perfect when you live in a townhouse with a small patio, or an apartment with a balcony. Maybe you'd like to add some interest at your front door or some colour outside a window?

You can grow anything in containers: bulbs, winter and summer annuals, perennials, climbing plants, herbs and veggies, all of which provide pleasure from spring through winter.

Succulents are my favourites and there's no end to the drama they provide, especially when they flower, which just puts the icing on the cake!

Try growing lettuce, radishes, green onions, zucchinis, tomatoes or scarlet runner beans in planters. Herbs, being Mediterranean plants that thrive in hot, dry conditions, are perfect for planters in full sun. Pick fresh sprigs of mint, chives, oregano or basil from a pot outside your kitchen door. I find basil and peppers produce best when grown in two-gallon black plastic pots, and harvest huge yields of tomatoes, cucumbers, tomatillos and eggplants from five-gallon pots positioned in the hottest spot in my garden.

In cedar boxes on a sundeck plant climbing roses, clematis or honeysuckle with bulbs for spring colour and lavender for summer fragrance. Massing colourful planters together is all the rage in gardening circles. When a planter has passed its best, simply replace it with another, just coming into its best show. This way you always have a fabulous display.

Many gardeners don't realize that in a large-enough container and with proper care, young trees and shrubs can thrive for at least five years. Enjoy them in containers, then have the benefit of an instant garden when you finally plant them. Figs, bay trees, weeping birches, willows, maples, bamboo, roses and many evergreens make garden-worthy container specimens.

TIP: Use a dolly to move large potted plants around more easily. I guarantee you'll thank me for this advice.

My Favourite Container Plants:
(Plants are hardy to the zone

• Nandina domestica (heavenly bamboo): for year-round interest; hardy to zone 6.

• Myrtus communis (myrtle tree): train it into a tree shape to accent its exquisite flowers and evergreen foliage; hardy to zone 8.

• Acer palmatum 'Fireglow' and 'Bloodgood' (red leaves): for sun; hardy to zone 6.

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