By Kate Karam
	Easy Container Garden
	One flat of plants for about $40. Two hours to prep and plant. Three containers. Having blooms that last till fall--priceless.
	High style yet low maintenance, easy care and affordable. That's the kind of gardening we like. To get the classic cottage look shown here, simply repeat the same plant combo in a pot, hanging basket, and window box all grouped together for impact. Forty bucks' worth of plants has never looked so good. photography: Tome McWilliam Left: 5 (4-inch) trailing sedums; Center: 5 (4-inch) purple oxalis; Right: 5 (4-inch) white geraniums photography: Tom McWilliam Fill hanging basket with 1 white geranium, 1 purple oxalis, and 1 trailing sedum. 1. Pick your plants. Select a favorite combination of 4-inch plants, then fill your flat at a nursery; most will let you mix-and-match. We chose plants that need six or more hours of full sun daily. They're perennials in zones 7-11, annuals or half-hardy (which means they require protection from frost) elsewhere. photography: Tom McWilliam Fill window box with 3 white geraniuls, 3 purple oxalis, and 3 trailing sedum. 2. Fill your containers. Choose three containers that complement your deck, patio, or entryway. Before you plant, you’ll also need to pick up enough potting soil and slow-release fertilizer (such as Osmocote). You should find both at your local nursery. photography: Tom McWilliam Fill pot with 1 white geraniums, 1 purple oxalis, and 1 trailing sedums. 3. Watch them grow. Feed monthly with a balanced fertilizer, and deadhead spent flowers regularly to keep them blooming.
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