winterizing the container balcony garden?

Question

I live in an apartment. My garden is up on my balcony, exposing my pots to cold elements all around their roots. Since my apartment is small I can not bring all of my plants inside. Last year, I used burlap to swaddle the containers and filled the burlap with mulch.

I was wondering if there is any other ways to protect the roots without using the mulch, because in the spring it was messy and gross to say the least.

Also, I grow trees on my balcony now. How can I prtect their branches? The tree I am most concerned about is a type of GrAfTed willow. It's not a weeping kind, but it forma a round ball with its branches.

Oh! One more thing, I also grow plants by my front door. I read that using leaves as a mulch is fantastic, because as they deacy, they feed the plants. But the leaves are blowing away. How can I get them to stay put throughout EvErY season, and not just winter?

thanks,
sammie

Answer 1

If you don't want to mess with leaves or other organic insulating material, how about Styrofoam? OK, surrounding the pots with styrofoam is great if they are square pots, but going around round would be tuff. Maybe an oversized square to fit around the round and then infill with something?? Also fiberglass bats such as you wrap hotwater heaters might be another choice.

I wouldn't worry about the graft unless you experience sub zero cold.

As for keeping the leaves atop the containers, you could put chicken wire over the top, but why bother?. Just use an nice organic mulch such as bark or splurge for pecan shells or cocoa mulch. Personal favorite of mine was redwood mulch.....when it was available. Loved the smell.

Answer 2

I think that, like it or not, mulch is the right answer for winterizing.

As far as protecting the branches.. I wouldn't worry about them. Willows go dormant, so they should be fine in the elements.

Above all, be sure that your garden gets some water over the winter. The roots need to stay moist. Drought is more of a plant killer than cold. In the ground, there is moisture available nearly all of the time. In rooftops applications, the soil can be dessicated by wind and sun. Water your soil if there is no precipitation for over a week. Seems odd to water dormant plants, but you gotta do it!

One more thing: Leaves are not the best choice for mulch because of the blowing issue.. but they also will decompose and may alter the structure of your potting soil. There is fertilizer value in them, but it's not that much. Granular, controlled release fertilizer is a better, more predictable way to feed your plants. Your rooftop plants could probably use some food too!

Good luck!

Answer 3

Well first of all you should scour the web for "container gardening." You'll find a wealth of information. A few tips from me - who grew a container garden last year: Don't use soil. Use a "soil free mix. This is generally peat, compost and soil lighteners like pearlite and vermiculite. Don't use chemical fertilizers. They build up salts particularly in containers. Containers should be as large as possible. I grew three tomato plants - 2 Supersteaks one Brandywine in 30 gallon containers. They did fine. Sure, they would have done better in the ground as tomatoes have big root systems but they did well enough in large containers. Start some seeds yourself and buy some established plants. This will give you the option to fail and still end up with a successful garden. Starting seeds will give you the learning experience. Your choice of plants is limited only by container size. I have seen people grow corn in containers.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Winterize your planters in a plastic bag with saw dust all around the pots. this keeps the water out, and stabilizes the temp fairly well. Just keep the bag out of sunlight, or you will bake the poor things.