Best Container Soil Mix for Hanging Baskets and Pots in Pittsburgh

Recommended Commercial Mixes

As a retailer/grower in the Pittsburgh area, I recommend Fafard soils:

• Fafard Container Mix: Ideal for herbaceous (soft-stemmed) plants in baskets and pots.
• Fafard Professional Potting Soil: Contains bark; better for woody tropical plants.

Available at independent garden centers.

Soil Longevity and Reuse

• Use for two seasons.
• Year 2: Remove, fluff, blend with some fresh mix to refill pots.
• Year 3: Incorporate into garden beds as amendment; fill pots with new soil.

Critical: Frequent Fertilizing

Container watering flushes nutrients. Use a quality fertilizer (e.g., Osmocote slow-release or fish emulsion) regularly. Water-soluble fertilizers can build up salts in containers.