These tips will help keep your container plants in the pink.
I am replacing patio plants with succulents and cacti. I move them into my sunroom in the winter. They have such interesting shapes. L.H., Yuma, CO
Vertical is the way to go. Grow UP wherever you can. K.R., Dallas, OR
Enjoy tomatoes even if you have no room for a garden. Cut a drainage hole in the bottom of a 3-gallon bucket that has a handle, fill it partway with soil, and plant your tomato plant. C.S., Halls, TN
I place fragrant potted plants on stairs leading to my back entrance. This summer I used rose-scented geraniums for a "scentual" experience as I brush by. I propagate cuttings near the end of the growing season and bring the smaller plants inside. My sunny, south-facing kitchen window is a miniature fragrant paradise.T.M., Columbus, OH
Window box container gardening, which is perfect for small spaces, has the advantage of portability when I use strong bicycle hooks to support the boxes. P.S., Weeki Wachee, FL
Post your watering schedule rather than trying to commit it to memory. M.G., Lafayette, LA
I grow tomatoes in containers. Before planting, I punch holes in the bottom of a 2-liter soda bottle, and then when I plant the container I bury the soda bottle up to the neck next to the plant. I keep the bottle filled with water and it seeps out to the roots of the plant. S.S., Marion, IN
I place several ice cubes on top of the soil of my hanging baskets for a slow drip system. V.C., Manahawkin, NJ
Group plants together and cover well with burlap. Locate them away from prevailing winds. P.F., Las Vegas, NV
I've discovered I can keep plants outdoors without worrying about freezing temperatures. I gather up all pots and move them close together with a sprinkler head somewhere near the center of all the pots (using a drip system also works). I invert a tomato cage over each one (turning down the pointed tips), and then wrap each cage with a white, gauze-like garden fabric called Reemay. I then use more Reemay to wrap around the entire grouping. I've been doing this for about six years and haven't lost a single pot of plants. I also use the same fabric at the first frost to cover plants and then remove the Reemay the following day. This allows me to enjoy the pots just a little longer before the hard winter sets in. T.H., Rockwall, TX
After grooming the plant for winter hibernation, place entire potted plant inside a larger wooden tub that is filled with dry leaves. Bury the plant deep within. Set the tub on the south side against a building. J.W., Eugene, OR
I've had great luck protecting potted perennials by cutting a piece of Styrofoam to fit the bottom of the pot and then placing the pot in a Christmas tree bag. Fill the bag with enough small Styrofoam packing pellets to fill in around the branches and the pot. For additional protection, wrap the whole bag with a hot water heater insulation kit. C.H., Green Bay, WI