Use a Bag of Soil for a Planter

Ever thought of planting a flower bed right in the soil bag?

Krissy Slagle, State Extension Program Assistant - Horticulture, tells you how:

Growing annual flowers in native soils can be a challenge in Georgia. Clay soils, though fertile, are often poorly drained, leading to root diseases. Sandy soils are generally less fertile, but may drain too quickly, making it hard to keep flowers watered and fed. Planting directly into a good bag of potting soil could be a better option.

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension experts say the key to improving soil is adding organic amendments. But sometimes, even adding organic matter yearly to flowerbeds doesn’t guarantee bountiful blooms.

In my personal garden, pine tree roots were a problem. It was difficult to work the compost in, and then the tree roots would grow up into the improved soil and take up the water and nutrients that were meant for the annual plants.

This spring, tired of working so hard to keep my summer annuals growing in clay soils and going broke from buying containers, I decided to try planting right in the bags of potting soil. First I did some research. I read UGA Extension publications online and found some information on growing vegetables in bags, but not much on flowers.

To read the rest, check out this link. Go to the link and click on Soil bag flower beds: an alternate to soil amendment.

http://www.caes.uga.edu/publications/pubDetail.cfm?pk_ID=7896#Bags

Please feel free to contact me with any gardening questions.  emily.harper@cobbcounty.org or 770-528-4070