This is a post from Guestblogger Bridget Elahcene. Bridget writes about her Life At The Villas (@lifeatthevillas)
As I sit by a roaring woodburner on this winter afternoon, hearing the rain beating on the window and strong winds howling Wuthering-Heights-style outside, my thoughts turn to battening down the hatches and hoping the garden will survive undamaged.
Thanks to Michael, the TV aerial is now securely bolted to the side of the house and I’m not concerned that our trees will be blown down because they are all under three years old and are whippy enough to take anything Mother Nature throws at them but I can’t help wondering if the collection of pots and planters that we have accumulated recently will stay upright in weather like this…
Plotting the potting
Indeed, when growing outdoor plants in pots there are several things to bear in mind:
- What size the plant is ultimately going to be
- If the pot is stable – does it rock or wobble?
- Whether the type of plant you want is happy growing in a pot – not all are
- If the shape of the plant suits the shape of the pot (not just aesthetically – stability is vital so think about wind resistance)
- Weight and mobility. Depending on what you are growing, are you going to want to move the pot at certain times of year for example into the greenhouse or conservatory?
- Whether the pot itself is frost resistant – unglazed terracotta is likely to crack in sub zero temperatures so to minimise risk, keep the growing medium as dry as possible over the winter months
- Bigger pots have more impact and won’t dry out as quickly
At the Villas we have just finished some hard landscaping which includes a sunken garden and a paved terrace. To break up this new patio area and to provide some height, we have introduced planters of various shapes and sizes:
Two beautiful old chimney pots which now stand side by side and create a handsome garden feature, housing a variegated ivy and an ornamental grass.
Matching medium sized glazed earthenware pots either side of our backdoor, each with a Juniper Chinensis ‘Pyramidalis’
Evergreen Box ‘Buxus Siempervirens’ clipped into a ball and in a tall and elegant deep red glazed pot – very heavy
Two variegated Hebes plants in matching classic shaped unglazed terracotta planters that have a tendency to blow over due to their relatively small base and the wind resistant shape and dense foliage of the plant – be warned!
Multi stemmed Bay ‘Laurus Nobilis’ approximately 2m tall in a large glazed earthenware planter – very heavy
First year Blueberry in a medium sized glazed earthenware pot. Rather than attempting to move this to the protection of the greenhouse this winter, I have loosely covered the plant with horticultural fleece which I have tied with string, secured around the rim.
Out of Harms Way
Collection of succulents including a lovely ‘Sedum Sediform’ (that tumbles over the edge) in a medium sized unglazed terracotta pot. Very pretty but not all the plants are frost tolerant so because it’s relatively light, the pot spends winter out of harm’s way in the greenhouse.
By the way, instead of throwing away polystyrene packaging why not reduce landfill and use it broken up in the bottom of your pots and planters. It makes excellent drainage and is lighter than traditional crocks.
… and finally remember to keep your pots fed and watered throughout the growing period – consider using water retentive compost in the first instance and because whatever growing medium you use will quickly be depleted of nutrients remember to water on a liquid plant food such as Miracle-Gro or Tomorite (other brands are available).
Happy pottering!
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