Self-contained

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.