Starling recommends that containers with flowers have several different species.

Begin by planting the tallest vegetation in the back of the pot first, moving forward in descending height and finishing with cascading or hanging plants on the front of the container, she said.

The center piece of a container should be something tall, she said.

“Plant the tallest one first and work your way toward the front,” Starling said. “Cram them in as tight as you can.”

Place the plants root to root in the containers. This helps when something in the container dies out, letting another species take over, she said.

Only put potting mix around the stem of the plant. Planting them too deep can rot the roots, Starling said.

A container garden will last a whole season, but it will either have to be replanted or removed at the end of the season, she said.

Starling recommends container gardens be planted in pots with holes to allow water to drain.

Without holes, water can back up, and in the extreme heat of South Georgia, it can boil in the container and rot the roots of the plant, she said.

Plants that need sunlight and plants that need shade should not be planted in the same container, Starling said.

The wrong fertilizer can “burn” plants. Extended release granules for annuals, perennials, vegetables and herbs or a mild mixture of soluble fertilizer are better suited for container gardens, she said.

To determine if a container needs water, Starling suggests sticking a finger in the soil. If the soil is moist, it doesn’t need water, she said.

“Most people kill plants with too much TLC,” Starling said.

Those looking for a challenge can even grow a water garden, taking water plants and placing them in a container for a small pond look.