Container planting can turn the best gardener into a weeping willow.

Pamela Crawford should know; the trained landscape architect and gardening author claims she's killed more than 3,000 plants in her quest to find the finickiest of flora.

Pamela Crawford / Special (ENLARGE)

Landscape architect Pamela Crawford offers tips for easy container gardening.

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"I see people who have green thumbs; everything they buy works," said Crawford, who gardens at her home in Canton. "That wasn't the case with me. I killed everything."

Here's the good news to every gardener who has caused floral death: It may not be your fault. Crawford said success at container gardening has more to do with plant selection than selector.

Seeking plant salvation, we chatted with Crawford about her latest book, "Easy Container Gardens: For Anyone Who Has Ever Killed a Plant!" Here are her best tips for easy container gardening.

• Blue ribbon winners: In Crawford's experience, some plants are unreliable while others are tried-and-true growers. In her book, she names plants like 'Dragon Wing' begonias, salvia and impatiens as the most dependable, while gerber daisies and million bells are iffy at best.

• All in the mix: Crawford said one of the biggest container gardening mistakes is buying the wrong potting soil. Most everything, save for cacti or orchids, needs a potting mix to thrive. Top soil, garden soil or potting soil for containers will weigh the plants down, she said. Her simple suggestion is to always look for the word "mix" on the package.

• Sun or shade: For plants that like sun, aim for a least four to six hours of full sun daily. Read up on your shade-loving plants to know if they need light, medium or dense shade. Impatiens, for example, thrive in light to medium shade; they wilt in full sun as well as in dense shade, which Crawford describes as little sunlight coming through thick trees.

• Buried alive: When planting the flower, don't crowd the stem with potting mix, compost or soil, she said. That trapped moisture can rot the stem and lead to breakage. Place the plant slightly above the potting mix line.

• Water it right: For seasoned gardeners, this is a no-brainer, but understanding the factors that affect a plant's water needs can make all the difference in container planting. Plants in shade need a third to one-half as much water as those in the sun, and high temperatures, wind or reflection from walls can also increase a plant's thirst. Water plants when they start to wilt or when the soil feels dry to the touch after inserting your finger about an inch into the potting mix, Crawford suggests. Water slowly and thoroughly each time until you see a steady stream of water coming out from bottom of pot. To be a drought-friendly gardener, use gray water on your containers.

AUTHOR TALK

Learn more with Pamela Crawford this weekend in Canton, where she'll speak at the Festival of the Arts. In addition to sharing her gardening tips, Crawford will talk about the best succulent combinations for low-water container planting. Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Crawford speaks at 1 p.m. daily. Cherokee County Arts Center, 94 North St., Canton, GA 30114. $5 admission; children under 12 free. www.cherokeearts.org.