SUMMER SET-UP

“ In summer, pop a saucer underneath your containers so any excess water that drains out can be soaked back into the soil,” says urban permaculture gardener Connie Cao.“ This acts like a self-watering reservoir and helps keep your plants hydrated.”

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Containers are great because you can move them around to chase the sun, and this includes taking them with you if you move house.”

of starting your gardening journey with containers,” says Connie.“ It means you can start small, and slowly add to it as you become more confident.”

Pick your plants

The good news is plenty of plants thrive in containers. For beginners,“ herbs and little flowers are wonderful options, and both can be useful in the kitchen,” says Connie. She recommends starting with parsley, oregano and spring onions(“ plant the roots of supermarket ones”), and trying edible flowers such as violas and dianthus.“ Both of these flowers make great additions to salads and baked treats.”

Container gardens can also be a fun way to introduce children to growing their own food.“ It’ s brilliant for getting kids involved,” says Shane.“ I have a twoyear-old at home, and we have a small series of herb containers in the garden. [ She loves ] getting her hands in the soil,

watching things sprout, picking the herbs and eating the cherry tomatoes. It’ s a great connection to establish for kids.”

Tips for success

Choosing the right container is important.“ I’ d recommend choosing larger containers where possible,” suggests Connie,“ and grouping a few plants with similar needs in the one container, versus planting them all in separate containers.

“ Larger containers have a larger volume of soil, which holds more nutrients and water for the plants to share. This makes caring for them much easier than if you were to grow them all in separate small pots.”

In fact, under-potting – that is, keeping plants in pots that are too small and restricting their root development – is one of the most common mistakes Shane sees new gardeners make.

The other? Underestimating how much water containers need.“ Containers dry out fast, particularly through summer, and people underestimate how quickly things can turn without consistency,” he explains.

But with a few well-chosen pots, some quality soil and beginner-friendly plants, container gardening offers an easy solution for bringing greenery, colour and even homegrown produce into almost any sized space.

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ALIX NICHOLSON

is a Sydney lifestyle journalist who covers homes, beauty and wellness.

COSTCO CONNECTION SEP / OCT 2026 | 31