Palatine Park District
Menu
  • Register Online
      • Account Login
      • Register Online
      • Create a Household
      • District Feedback
      • Forms & Permits
      • Gift Cards
      • PRIDE Nominations
      • Program Catalog
      • Registration Information
      • Registration FAQs
    • Close
  • Programs & Events
      • Programs
      • Adult & Tot
      • Aquatics
      • Athletics
      • Camps
      • C.A.R.E.
      • Cultural Arts
      • Early Childhood
      • Fitness
      • Golf
      • Gymnastics
      • Horsemanship
      • Leagues
      • On Demand
      • Preschool
      • Youth & Teen
      • Upcoming Special Events
      • Calendar of Events
      • Sounds of Summer
      • Storytime In The Park
      • Turkey Trot
      • Community Organizations
      • Affiliate Organizations
      • Associated Organizations
      • Civic Organizations
      • Community Partners
    • Close
  • Facilities
      • Facilities
      • Facilities Overview
      • Birchwood Recreation Center
      • Clayson House Museum & Library
      • Combined Services Facility
      • Community Center
      • Community Fitness Center
      • Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center
      • Falcon Park Recreation Center
      • Fred P. Hall Amphitheater
      • Health and Recreation Center
      • Outdoor Pools
      • Palatine Hills Golf Course & Clubhouse
      • Preschools
      • Palatine Stables
      • Facility Activity Schedules
      • Gym, Track & Turf
      • Indoor Pool
      • #
      • Outdoor Aquatics Facilities
      • Birchwood Pool
      • Eagle Pool
      • Family Aquatic Center
      • #
      • Rentals, Parties & More
      • Interactive Map
      • Party Packages
      • Rental Opportunities
      • Forms & Permits
    • Close
  • Parks
      • Parks
      • Disc Golf Course
      • Dog Park
      • Field Conditions
      • Guide to Parks & Trails
      • Ice Rink Conditions
      • Lightning Detection
      • Outdoor Athletic Courts & Fields
      • Picnic Areas & Shelters
      • Skate Park
      • Rentals, Parties & More
      • Interactive Map
      • Field Rentals
      • Forms & Permits
      • Park & Shelter Rentals
    • Close
  • Community Involvement
      • Palatine Park Foundation
      • About the Foundation
      • Donations
      • Foundation Events
      • Living Tributes
      • Scholarships
      • Partner Program
      • Sponsorship & Advertising
      • Volunteer Program
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Volunteer Recognition
    • Close
  • Jobs at PPD
      • Current Job Openings
    • Close
  • District Information
      • About Us
      • District History
      • Join Our Mailing List
      • Mission & Values
      • Mobile App
      • Ordinances & Policies
      • Podcast
      • Program Catalog
      • Staff Committees
      • Staff Directory
      • Recent Articles
      • News Updates
      • Park Views Blog
      • #
      • Park Board
      • Board of Commissioners
      • Open Meetings Act
      • Policies of Public Input Protocol
      • Transparency Center
      • Bids & Proposals
      • Board Meeting Agendas & Minutes
      • Code of Conduct
      • Comprehensive Plan
      • Concussion Awareness
      • Construction Projects
      • Financial Reports
      • Freedom of Information Act
      • Weather Closings
    • Close

Potted Plant Care for the Summer

June 20, 2019 / Palatine Park District / Park Views

Taking care of potted plants in the summer can bring color and life to new places. Many people like to put pots on their front porch and patios. These pots bring a great deal of enjoyment and can be very easy to take care of if you plan ahead.

One of the most important things is to only use “Potting Soil” in pots, never add topsoil or soil from your garden. Pots have a drastically different environment and potting soil helps adapt to the challenges. Plastic pots have come a long way in the past 10-20 years. They now can be as ornamental as clay pots and still have the water conserving attributes that are so helpful. Most summer potted annuals can dry out too fast when using clay pots. This is because the soil is exposed to drying air and sun on many sides, not just the top. If you are using a clay pot you can always line it with a plastic garbage bag that you have cut holes in for drainage. Another trick is to line the inside of the clay pot with plastic wrap or something that blocks the moisture.

When watering plants in pots remember that most of the time the water runs out long before it is absorbed into the soil. The easiest way to check is to poke your finger into the soil and roots. If the water has soaked into the soil it will be cool and soft to the touch. Dry soil feels hot and crumbly. To help pots absorb water you can use a couple of secret gardening tricks. If the pot is small enough you can soak it in a bucket of water for about 20 minutes. If not, you can put warm water in your watering can then add about 3 drops of dish soap per gallon. This will help the soil absorb the water by breaking down the (fancy word time) hydrophobic properties of dried peat-based soils and lowering the surface tension of the water. Once your plants are wet all throughout the soil make sure that water runs out of the holes in the bottom. This stops the fertilizer and hard water salts from accumulating in the soil.

Most annuals and potted plants do best with a different fertilization schedule that suggested on the boxes of fertilizers. If your fertilizer box that you use for your pots says “1 tablespoon per gallon of water every 7-14 days,” try changing to 1 teaspoon per gallon every time you water the pots. A constant steady low concentration of fertilizer is called spoon feeding and makes the potted plants healthier and grow more evenly.

About the Author • Corey Zak, CPRP

Corey Zak is the Palatine Park District’s Horticulture Manager. Cory has won awards for his designs and work. In recent years he has worked on making Palatine Park District landscape practices more pollinator friendly and helping to introduce plants to the public that are beneficial to pollinators as well as having ornamental qualities.

Horticulture

Facebook

YouTube

Palatine Park District

Stay Connected


TikTok

  
Contact Us

ppd@palatineparks.org

Administrative &
Registration Office

Community Center
250 E. Wood St.
Palatine, IL 60067
Phone: 847.991.0333

Registration Office

Birchwood
Recreation Center
435 W. Illinois Ave.
Palatine, IL 60067
Phone: 847.991.1960

Registration Office

Falcon Park
Recreation Center
2195 N. Hicks Rd.
Palatine, IL 60074
Phone:  847.202.5111

Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency (2019-2024)

Copyright © 2021 Palatine Park District • Rentals • Privacy Policy • Site Map
powered by RecCentric