If you live in an apartment, a container garden may be the only kind you have room for. Gardening expert Terry Ryan advises using lots of pots to create a lush, verdant look--even on a rooftop. Terry prefers wooden containers and unglazed terra-cotta pots (figure A) because they "breathe," making it easier for roots to get oxygen. Avoid overwatering container plants, and make sure each pot has a drainage hole (figure B). If moisture is trapped in pots, the roots eventually rot. Natural materials such as wood and terra cotta permit water to evaporate through the sides of the pot. This also means that such pots dry out faster than plastic or glazed-ceramic containers. Terra-cotta pots work well in a casual garden setting and enhance a concrete or flagstone patio. Wooden containers come in a variety of types. The best are made from redwood or cedar, woods that resist decay. Loosely constructed wood containers don't need a drainage hole (figure C), but once they're set in place, they shouldn't be moved. If you select a container made of wood other than redwood or cedar, you can make it last longer by lining the sides with black plastic sheeting, a garbage bag or landscape fabric. If the lining isn't porous, don't line the bottom of the container, which would inhibit drainage. Strawberry-jar planters make wonderful containers for any type of plant, from herbs to annuals. Usually made of terra cotta, they come either glazed or unglazed. Turn the jar frequently during the growing season so all the plants receive an equal amount of light. Before planting a strawberry jar, put pottery shards or a piece of plastic window screen over the drainage hole to prevent soil from washing out. Place a layer of potting soil 2" to 3" deep in the bottom of the jar. Slide a plant in the top of the jar, and push the foliage out through one of the side pockets. Leave the roots in the soil at the bottom of the container. Fill with soil to the next level of pockets, and add more plants. When you reach the top, leave 1" of space between the rim of the pot and the surface of the soil to make watering easier (figure D).
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