For those who would like to learn more about container gardening, Ms. Stamats offers her students a list of more than a dozen books on the subject. The program will focus on adding interest, dramatic accents, level changes, and a touch of whimsy using containers in flower borders and shrub plantings. B.B. Stamats' soil recipe for a pot 22 inches tall, or taller Drill one or more drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, then cover with terra-cotta shards, weedmat or a small, inverted flowerpot. Fill the bottom one-third of the container with an inert material. Ms. Stamats recommends Styrofoam peanuts wrapped in a mesh bag, the kind onions come in.
Pine cones work, too.
Ms. Stamats uses sterile soil because of the pathogens found in soil from the yard. Again, add water until friable. For perennials, you can add the gel to both layers or only the bottom layer. Fill the pot to the rim, creating a mound in the middle.