7 Pro-Approved Tips to Prevent Your Container Garden from Drying Out

There is so much to love about container gardening. Whether you’re nurturing a vegetable container garden or simply adding some flowers to a patio or terrace, they can be a stunning addition to your outdoor area.

Unfortunately, though, there’s a major downside to container gardening. Once the temperature rises and it gets too hot, they’re prone to drying out quickly.

With this in mind, we connected with a few of our favorite gardening pros to find out how to best prevent this and keep plants from dying in containers at the height of summer.

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Assess Your Container’s Needs

As Anastasia Borisevich, plant expert at Plantum, points out, consider what you’ve planted in your containers and make a plan from there. Different plants, as we all know, often have different needs. 

Borisevich says potted plants require more water than those growing in the ground. This is because there’s less room for their roots to expand and fewer nutrients available. 

“Also, if many plants are growing in the same pot competing for a limited amount of food, this can cause them to wilt and become hungry very quickly,” Borisevich says. 

Maintain a Regular Watering Schedule

According to Laura Janney, founder of The Inspired Garden, now is not the time to be lax with your watering habits. Attentive care in the summer is the most surefire way to keep your container gardens happy, healthy, and hydrated.

With this comes the need for a consistent watering schedule so your plants never become stressed. Janney suggests keeping the soil consistently watered at the peak of the summer.

It’s best to water your plants early in the morning, late in the afternoon, or early in the evening. By avoiding the sun’s peak hours, Janney says you’re giving your plants the best shot at absorbing moisture.

Consider Providing Shade Coverage

If you’re finding your container plants are really struggling, Borisevich suggests some shade coverage might be in order—especially during the hot season.

Use a shade cloth cover, or install an outdoor umbrella, says Borisevich, who also notes you can create shade using other plants.

Confirm Proper Drainage

Another big issue with container gardens, says Janney, can be down to the containers themselves. It’s important to ensure your containers have good drainage. This prevents waterlogging, which can damage your roots.

“Use moisture control soil, especially during the hot summer months, to help manage water retention and drainage,” Janney says.

Water Correctly

It’s also critical to pay attention to how you’re watering, says Janney. With container gardens, in particular, it’s important to water the entire surface of the soil evenly out to the edges.

“Many gardeners only water the center, causing the plants at the edges to dry out faster,” she says.

Janney says to aim the nozzle directly into the soil—don’t just wet the flowers and foliage. This ensures that the water reaches the roots where it’s most needed.

Monitor Your Soil’s Moisture

If a regular watering schedule isn’t working for you, Janney says you can also monitor your soil’s moisture levels with your finger or a moisture meter. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to water, she says.

Or, if preferred, you can set up an irrigation system. Janney suggests drip tubes for ease and efficiency, which ensure a steady and regulated amount of water. 

Don’t Neglect Other Maintenance

While watering your container gardens is important, it’s not the only thing that will help you find success this summer.

Focus on your container garden’s nutrition and maintenance—this means regular fertilization, pruning, and deadheading to encourage new, healthy growth. Borisevich also suggests using more breathable fabric pots to keep roots cool, keeping your containers weed-free, and using mulch.

“Mulch breaks down over time and adds organic matter to the soil, giving your veg beds and containers a well-needed boost for the summer,” she says, noting this is especially true for young plants and any with shallow roots.