Grow a garden using small pots

"Most people would succeed in small things if they were not troubled with great ambitions."

Longfellow's words are so true, for more people have abandoned container gardening over impossibly high expectations than any other reason. And unrealistic expectations are the rule, not the exception.

Big pots are heavy. They are difficult to move into place or relocate if not positioned perfectly. The weight of pot, soil, water and plants should never be underestimated. It can crack paver tiles, splinter aging decks, stress balconies and, most of all, challenge our strength.

For urban gardeners and those with limited spaces to enliven with plants, think small and think many. The power of arranging many smaller individual pots is the designer's secret for creating interest where there's nothing else to hold the eye. They are easy to plant, lift and move around. If you relocate to a new home, you can take them with you far easier than would be the case with giant patio pots. And should the pot break, you aren't out a king's ransom to replace it.

For some, the small-pot garden may appear too fussy or cluttered, but for the urban gardener it lends diversity to dull spaces. There's the opportunity to arrange and rearrange. You can plant different color schemes each season, and you can bring the pots indoors at season's end to extend plant life.

Small pots are all around us, and the range of ceramics is mind-boggling. From Italian terra-cotta to Ikea modern cylinders, plus a raft of one-of-a-kind oddballs, you'll find them in all prices, colors and shapes. In a slow economy, when elaborate choices are beyond the budgets of many, small-pot gardens are the perfect solution.

When you have one pot, it's beautiful, but when you have a series of similar or identical ones, your small urban space takes on a new look. Compare it to a china cabinet or breakfront, where precious cups and saucers, crystal and silver are collected for all to enjoy. Small-pot gardens inhabit baker's racks, outdoor dining tables -- and any other outdoor surface where they may be displayed as a personal artistic expression.

For the cash-strapped gardener, there are creative ways to expand your collection of diminutive containers. Tag, yard and garage sales are the most affordable sources. Keep a sharp eye out for diamonds in the rough that can be had for pennies. Often these are encrusted with a mineral buildup that obscures a formerly glittering glazed finish. Use CLR or Lime Away to loosen and remove the residue to discover your treasure's true beauty.

Tag sales also may include containers not originally designated for gardens. Some of these simply lack a drain hole. To turn a cache pot into a garden pot, use a large-diameter electric drill to poke a hole in the bottom. If the container is ceramic, apply a large piece of heavy masking tape to the bottom and drill the hole through that. The tape helps maintain the integrity of both ceramic and glaze to reduce the chance of cracks or even shattering while drilling.

Thrift stores are another possible gold mine. They may offer a wide range of smaller terra-cotta pots. These are often donated after being used as table settings, and so you may find a batch of them for next to nothing.

Occasionally you'll find some really great deals at 99 Cent Only stores or close-out chains such as Big Lots. The best finds are in the spring when they stock up on cut-rate gardening stuff. You'll find some really odd containers for pennies on the dollar.

Never underestimate the power of tiny objects to create a visual feast. It's doable for a beginner. It's affordable for the budget gardener. Most of all, gardening in little pots makes each shopping experience a tightwad treasure hunt.

Maureen Gilmer is a horticulturist and host of "Weekend Gardening" on DIY Network. Contact her at her Web site www.moplants.com or visit www.diynetwork.com.