Gardening

Pots can add style to any part of the garden

Pots can add style to any part of the garden

Now that spring is well under way and rain delivery is on a go-slow, I am reminded of the one big disadvantage of growing plants in pots.

I’ve always been a fan of container gardening but now that we have rather a lot, I’m clocking up the mileage watering them.

I had a count-up the other day and logged 25 containers, not counting the defunct ones behind the shed awaiting rejuvenation.

Every two or three days I traipse from one to the other lugging a 10 litre watering can and checking on their state of health. (Yes, I have thought of doing it with the hose but our property is a couple of acres and connecting all our hoses together to reach every pot would take quite a lot longer than watering them.)

Oddly enough, this is not enough to discourage me from container gardening, because for me, it’s all about the container, not the plant that’s in it.

Beautiful pots can add instant style to any part of the garden, and can be used in the same way as other hard landscaping elements like walls, or natural divisions like hedges.

You can group several pots together to create instant privacy, line them up in a row to hide the wood pile, or position them along the edge of the driveway to stop people driving on to the lawn.

I buy pots because I like the look of them. I don’t usually have a purpose in mind so when they arrive home The Landscaper has to create the perfect setting for them, which can involve half a day’s work. Or more.

But if you’re a normal person and you buy a pot to put a plant in, you should probably buy the plant first, and then chose a pot the right size, shape and design for it.

If you’re a function-before-form person, your pot should be chosen to provide the best environment for your plant.

At least one and hopefully three holes in the bottom for drainage is a good plan, and you could also add some shingle or chip to the bottom to keep the slugs and snails out.

Outdoor pots come in all kinds of materials from plastic to metal. At the moment I’m buying glazed ceramic pots because they look good, come in heaps of colours and are easy to clean.

Terracotta has a natural, earthy look and is permeable, so it can lose moisture and pick up moisture from outside. You can glaze the interior to limit that.

Stone and concrete have similar properties.

Plastic, fibreglass and resin pots are usually crafted to look like stone or terracotta. Some do a fairly good impersonation; others, not so much. They’re usually lightweight and reasonably durable.

Wooden planters — think old oak half barrels — look lovely in the right setting but don’t last forever. Having said that, depending on the type of wood, you might get a few good years out of them.

You could line them with a plastic container to increase the lifespan.

Metal pots are the look of the moment and are fantastic in a modern garden. Options include iron, aluminium, stainless steel, zinc and copper.

You can plant practically anything in a pot, but there’s an element of horses for courses involved.

A tall plant will look silly in a shallow pot and might be inclined to fall over, while a tiny succulent in a big tub will look lonely. Check the tag to find out how tall, and just as importantly how wide, your plant is likely to grow.

It may be stating the obvious, but the pot should always be bigger than the planter bag. Water it really well to make it easy to get out of its bag.

Buy little pot feet from the garden centre and prop your pots on them so they don’t stain your pavers or whatever they’re sitting on.

And don’t panic if your plants sulk. They may be getting too much sun or too much shade, or simply not like the view.

Grab a hand-truck (a must-have if you like container gardening) and give them a new location. A change is as good as a holiday.

For me, it’s all about the container, not the plant that’s in it.

You can use groups of containers to define spaces. These ones have been used to create an avenue.

Whether your garden is rustic or contemporary, there’s a metal pot to suit.

Glazed pots have a lot going for them. They come in vibrant colours to match your plants, they don’t grow moss on the outside, and they’re easy to clean.