Question
Hi Jim,

Every year we have a reasonable number of hanging baskets and clay pots of all sizes and I seem to be having some difficulty getting a good soil mix for these containers. Can you please give me some recommendations as to a good soil mixture to use for these containers. There is a wide range of plants that are planted in different containers, even the same container. We live in the Pittsburgh area. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated and THANK YOU.

Answer
Hi Mike, As a retailer and grower, I like Fafard soils.  They perform well for me.  Fafard Container Mix is great for baskets and pots if you are growing herbaceous (soft stemmed) plants.  For woody tropical plants, use Fafard Professional Potting Soil. It has some bark added to it.
I use the soil for two years in my containers at home. At the beginning of the second year, the soil is removed, fluffed and blended with a little new soil if needed to fill the pot. Three year old soil is used as a soil amendment when planting in the garden and the pots are filled with new soil.  You should be able to find Fafard soils at you local independent garden center.
Remember to feed frequently with a good quality fertilizer.  You flush a lot of nutrients out the pot when you water.  Jim