BLAKESBURG — Container gardening has moved outdoors, becoming an important segment of the gardening industry and along the way evolving into unique landscape designs.

 It’s “easy, fun, anybody can do it,” said Patty Rowland, a master gardener from Blakesburg. She “loves gardening; has always loved gardening.” As a little girl, she “potted weeds in pork and bean cans.”

“Choose the right light for the plant and don’t over water,” she said. Plants like differing amounts of light. Holes in the bottom or sides of the container to assure adequate drainage are a must.

Dark-colored plastic pots absorb solar heat so are a good choice for tomatoes, cannas or other warm-natured plants in a cool climate. But, they heat up in hot summer areas and cook the roots. To prevent overheating, shield pots with foil.

Light-colored containers reflect solar heat, helping keep plant roots cool. Dense concrete or thick terra-cotta pots hold heat. Tall narrow containers like strawberry planters as well as small pots and shallow containers heat up and dry out quickly. They are a good choice for sedums or other succulents.

Container gardening is great for people who lack space, time or energy for the heavy digging and constant weeding that go with tending a larger space. All you need is a little spot of sun in a court yard, on a window sill, deck, balcony, front or back steps, fire escape or roof. For gardeners with more space and energy, container gardening may be coupled with larger landscape design to enhance certain features or to hide ugly utility poles and meters.

Eunice Osing of rural Blakesburg chose graceful stemmed containers to enhance the brick and cement stairway leading from the deck to the lower level of her lawn.

She chooses colors that she thinks go together well and “things humming birds like.” At the edge of her lawn is the “bird garden” planted with rudberkia, cannas, black eyed Susan, “just things that birds like.”

Most gardeners stick with the standard colors that mimic clay and ceramic containers, sandy white, terra-cotta orange and forest green or the new fiberglass pots and planters made of molded fiberglass foam. Recycled items such as old work shoes, wheel barrel, child’s wagon, wash tub or other household objects can be used to add character.

Grow bags — perforated plastic bags filled with potting soil ready for planting — are easy solutions for some areas. Open the planting holes, poke in a few seeds or plants and add water. For best results, place on a wood packing pallet to make sure excess water can drain away.

Or, use a 20-pound bag of inexpensive potting soil. Make a few drainage holes in the lower side. Punch holes in top and sides. Anything from cucumber to coleus will thrive. For best appearance, choose a sprawling plant or vine that will cover the bag.