Marilyn,

I wanted to ask what type of potting soil you use in your pots, and also how often do you water them on average?

Hi Carly,

Each year I remove the (old previous season's) top portion of the mix and admen the remaining soil with some Vermont Compost Container Booster Mix https://www.gardeners.com/buy/... that I get from Gardener's Supply.
I also mix in some Eco-co® Coir https://www.gardeners.com/buy/... that I also get from Gardener's Supply.
This way, I don't have to use all new potting mix for my containers each year.
I then, add some of the new and fresh (yellow and green bags) Miracle Gro potting mix on the top. https://www.miraclegro.com/en-...

Since last spring, I been mulching the top of the containers with mulch that I get from Gardener's Supply https://www.gardeners.com/buy/...

Several containers are extra-large black "nursery tree" plastic pots, some are 24 inch plastic containers, some are 20 inch plastic containers, some 17-20 "hard" plastic gallon tubs (the kind with white ropes for handles) that my husband drills 8-10 holes at the bottom that I use for containers, some are 16 inch plastic containers, a few 14 inch plastic containers and a couple 15 gallon black plastic containers. With the size of them and the mulch, I don't feel I have to water too often (once a week, along with the rain we get). I water a lot more (twice a week) when it's very hot. I have a 36 inch watering wand attached to my hose and water them deeply. (big drinks of water)

I leave all my containers outside 365 days of the year.

Before I started adding the mulch (above in previous post), I had to water more during the week. Don't remember how many times, but I'm sure glad I discovered that mulch at Gardener's Supply.

Great thanks Marilyn! Such good info.

Meant to add....

I sometimes added some wood cedar mulch (the kind you find in the bags at Lowe's, garden centers, etc...) to top my containers, but didn't always remember to do it many years, but that bagged mulch for water conservation for containers doesn't even compare with the mulch I started getting and using last year from Gardeners Supply. I keep the extra unopened blocks dry (that I got last year) in my garage and when I'm ready to use it, I follow the directions and add it. Wished I "known" about it sooner, even though I buy from Gardeners Supply every year.

https://www.gardeners.com/buy/...

Read the reviews on the above link, I did and was sold on it!

Ok excellent I will check it out!