My Unexpected Joy: Starting a Container Garden

Hi, I'm Anne, and welcome to this special edition of the Newell Services blog! Normally, we’re talking all things grass, lawn health, and keeping your outdoor spaces lush and green. But today, we’re taking a little side step into something just as magical: Container Gardening.—where you’ll find dirt under my nails, seedlings in my window, and a whole lot of learning happening in real time. I’m not a master gardener (yet), just someone who fell in love with the idea of growing her own food and flowers—and decided to start exactly where I’m at, with a patch of concrete, a few pots, and a lot of curiosity.

Don't mind the patchy paint. I'm hoping to add a rug to make my area even more beautiful!

🌱 Why I Started Container Gardening

Truthfully? It felt doable.

Starting a full in-ground garden sounded a little overwhelming for my first go, and I didn’t want to risk tearing up the yard without knowing what I was doing. So I looked to container gardening as a flexible, manageable, and low-commitment way to get started. It may not have been the prettiest area in our backyard when I started, but now, it's full of life.

I loved the idea that I could start small and grow big. Just a few pots with a handful of seeds, and if I messed up, it wasn’t the end of the world—I could just replant and try again. Plus, there's something really charming about a garden made up of mismatched pots and planters—it feels scrappy and sweet and mine. There’s no perfectly aligned rows or manicured beds; it’s just a collection of life in little containers, all doing their best.

I think there’s a kind of magic in that. Watching things grow where they technically shouldn’t—on concrete, in buckets, in old barrels. It’s proof that you can start anywhere and make something beautiful.

🌿 What I’m Growing

Right now, my container garden is tucked along the side of my house, living its best life (hopefully) on top of a concrete pad. It might get tricky when Oklahoma summer heat kicks in, but I’m learning as I go. I’m always experimenting—figuring out which plants can handle that reflected heat from the concrete and which ones need a little extra shade.

Here’s what’s currently growing:

• 🍅 Tomatoes, jalapeños, serranos, bell peppers — These are my pride and joy. There’s nothing like picking a warm tomato right off the vine and biting into it with the smell of sun still on it.

• 🧅 Onions, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, radishes, lettuces, garlic, carrots — My little vegetable patch in pots! I’m learning the art of succession planting so I can get more out of the space I have.

• 🌿 Oregano, basil, rosemary, sage, thyme, cilantro, parsley, dill — Herbs are my absolute favorite. They’re forgiving, they smell amazing, and there’s something so satisfying about snipping fresh rosemary for dinner.

• 🌻 Sunflowers, nasturtiums, marigolds, lavender, catmint, geranium, petunia — These are my garden cheerleaders. The flowers bring in pollinators and make everything feel a little brighter.

• 🌱 Bush beans and a few other surprise guests I’ve forgotten about! — I always forget what I’ve planted until it pops up. It’s like getting a little garden surprise every season.

Some are thriving. Some are…trying their best. But every morning I step outside to check on them, I feel a little jolt of joy. It’s the first thing I do—sometimes even before I’ve had my coffee.

Close up of my containers. You can even see the powdered eggshell I added!

🌼 Wins & Whoopsies

A big win for me this season: my seed starts actually took! It’s the first time I’ve started from seed and then successfully transitioned those little babies outside. I’d tried in the past and always ended up with leggy sprouts or plants that just…gave up. But this time, I did the hardening-off process properly (a little more patience goes a long way, apparently), and they actually made it. There’s something kind of magical about watching a plant grow from nothing—especially when it works.

But more than that, my garden has become my peace. It clears my head, slows my thoughts, and reminds me to breathe. No matter how the plants are doing, I always feel better after a little time out there. I think that’s my real win—not the plants, but the peace.

As for whoopsies? Well… let's just say I may have underestimated how fast lettuce grows (and how small radish spacing needs to be). I have a whole container that’s basically one solid block of radish leaves. I’m calling it a learning experience.

🌞 What’s Next for Starting a Container Garden

Next up, I’m learning how to protect my containers from the summer heat radiating off the concrete, and experimenting with some vertical setups to save space. I’m also dreaming about a future post on how to style container gardens cute—because practical and pretty is the goal!

If you’re enjoying this little detour into the world of gardening and want to see more of it here on the Newell Services blog, let me know! I’d love to share more tips, stories, and lessons learned as I continue this journey.

After all, green spaces—whether it’s a lush lawn or a patch of concrete covered in pots—are all about finding peace and beauty right where you are.

Next up, I’m learning how to protect my containers from the summer heat radiating off the concrete, and experimenting with some vertical setups to save space. I’m also dreaming about a future post on how to style container gardens cute—because practical and pretty is the goal!

If you’re on your own garden journey, I’d love to hear from you. What are you growing? What’s working (or not)? Let’s grow together! 🌿

This is my new garden buddy!