A part sun part shade plant box holds a variety of annuals.

Spring and early summer is the perfect time to take our favorite pots and planters out of storage and begin planning our container gardens. There's certainly a lot to love about container gardens!

Container gardens brighten drab areas, add interest to a garden walk and promote plant diversity. They also create the look and feel of a garden just about anywhere.

Containers come in a wide variety of materials, shapes, and sizes, all with advantages and disadvantages. Durable containers are made of plastic and fiberglass. Concrete containers are durable, too, but may chip or crack and can be heavy to lift and relocate.

Clay pots are more porous than plastic or fiberglass, so plants will require frequent watering. Ceramic containers are useful in the warm temperatures but may crack in freezing temperatures. Finally, metal or wire containers require a liner, such as cocoa fiber. The metal planters absorb heat, which may cause soil temperature fluctuations and potential root damage. Large pots may be challenging to place in the proper location and require more soil and plants for a complete look while smaller containers can be grouped for a fuller effect or placed with larger pots for visual depth.

Decide in advance if the containers will be used for vegetables or flowers. For vegetable container gardening, select vegetable varieties that are specific for containers. Usually, the vegetable plant tag provides information about the plant's suitability for containers. Dwarf, compact and bush-type vegetable plants do well in containers placed in full sun where deer cannot eat them. For example, squash and cucumbers are available in bush-type varieties that can be grown with or without trellising. Container sizes and spacing distances vary among vegetables. For example, one cherry tomato can grow well in a one-gallon container, while bush beans planted two to three inches apart will grow well in a two-gallon container or larger.

Flowering container gardens are the manifestation of one's imagination. A popular approach for creating flowering container gardens is the thriller-filler-spiller method. The thriller plant is the largest or tallest plant that draws attention. Filler plants are short and full, surrounding the thriller. The spillers are vines that cascade from the container's edges. Assure that the selected plants require the same light and water requirements for the best outcomes. Varying colors, textures, bloom times and foliage of flowering plants offers continual interest throughout the summer and fall.After selecting containers and plants, prepare the containers. Place a piece of window screening or a coffee filter over the drain hole to prevent soil loss with watering. Fill the container to one inch below its rim with quality potting soil. Insert the plants close together to give the container the appearance of fullness. Feed the plants with either slow or water-soluble diluted plant food. Water when the soil is dry to the touch. Place a saucer underneath the container to collect water. Deadhead and groom plants and vegetables as needed. Check plants frequently for disease or insects. Replace diseased or dying plants as needed.Container gardening affords gardeners the opportunity to grow flowers and vegetables in a variety of locations throughout the summer and fall months.If you have questions about container gardening, call the Master Gardener Garden Hotline at 724-287-4761, Ext. 7, or email butlermg@psu.edu.Polly Burkhard is a Penn State Extension Master Gardener of Butler County.

A trio of similar containers holds a variety of contrasting colors against a brick background.