Container gardening is an excellent way to bring color, fragrance and beauty to small spaces, patios, or balconies. Whether you want a beautiful floral display or a fresh supply of herbs for your kitchen, planting in containers is an easy and rewarding way to garden.

I love planting in containers simply because I can move my plants around to get the look I want in my garden area.

For anyone who wants to try their hand at it, there are some things to consider before starting.

Hopefully this guide will walk you through the essential steps to successfully growing flowers and herbs in pots.

The first step in container gardening is selecting the right pots. Terracotta, plastic, ceramic and metal pots all have different benefits.

Terracotta is breathable but dries out quickly, while plastic retains moisture. When determining the size of the pot, larger pots retain moisture longer and provide more room for root growth, while smaller pots dry out faster and require frequent watering. Whichever pot you choose, ensure there is adequate drainage to prevent root rot.

Good quality potting soil is the second step and crucial to successful container gardening. Avoid using regular garden soil. This tends to compact in pots, limiting drainage and airflow. Instead, choose a high-quality, lightweight potting mix with added nutrients and moisture-retaining properties.

In the third step, when selecting plants, combine plants with similar growing requirements.

Container gardens with several plants generally should be started with small plants. This allows the plants to grow together and develop an attractive appearance.

Some great flower options include petunias (sun), geraniums (sun, partial shade), marigolds (sun) and begonias (shade). Or you may want to consider planting herbs like basil (sun), rosemary (sun), mint (sun, partial shade) and thyme (sun).

When planting your containers, be sure to leave about an inch of space at the top. Arrange the taller plants in the center or back and trailing plants along the edges. Gently remove the plants from the nursery pots, loosen the roots and place them in the soil. Fill in any gaps with soil and water thoroughly.

Containers dry out faster than garden beds, so water regularly, especially in hot weather. I try to group my plants together within reach of the hose. Use a balanced fertilizer every few weeks to encourage growth and be sure to trim your flowers and herbs to promote new growth.

Most importantly, keep an eye out for pests.

Container gardening can be fun. Each year I find something new to plant in one of my containers. This year I am thinking about succulents or maybe Angelonia. What about you?

Kostelic is an Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in Mahoning County.