Choosing Materials for Your Garden Containers
Containers come in a wide range of materials, from metal to ceramic to wood, but the right choice depends on three key factors: the design of your garden or patio, where the containers are to be positioned and the size of your budget.
- Excerpted from Simple Steps: Containers for Patios
- A
- A
- A
E-mail This Page to Your Friends
xSuccess!
A link to %this page% was e-mailed
DK - Simple Steps to Success: Containers for Patios © 2007 Dorling Kindersley Limited An upbeat mix of styles, materials and colors.
Clay
Advantages: Most garden centers now have a huge range of clay pots, from the tiny and inexpensive to wide-rimmed, big-bellied "sumo wrestlers" that can be very costly. Old pots (or reproductions) with swagged patterns add Renaissance antiquity and a sculptural touch.
Disadvantages: Clay is porous and dries out quickly; a polythene liner can help reduce this problem. Also check that pots are frost-proof, not just frost-resistant. Make sure that plants aren’t top-heavy, or the pot may blow over in high winds and break.
Tip: Clay pots are often best in semi-shade to prevent them from drying out too quickly.
Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - Simple Steps to Success: Containers for Patios © 2007 Dorling Kindersley LimitedWood
Advantages: Solid hardwood barrels and containers made from logs are long-lasting and a good choice for permanent plantings in rustic settings. Large tubs have plenty of space for root development and extra plants—such as seasonal bulbs—around the sides.
Disadvantages: Check whether softwood containers or windowboxes need treatment with a plant-friendly wood preservative. They also need to be lined with plastic to prevent soil from spilling out. Large barrels are heavy when planted, so plant them in situ.
Tip: Rustic wood is ideal for woodland plants.
Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - Simple Steps to Success: Containers for Patios © 2007 Dorling Kindersley LimitedStone
Advantages: Stone has a solid, antique look. Larger containers suit permanent plantings and offer plenty of room for root growth. Genuine old stone can be very expensive, but less costly modern copies in reconstituted stone or concrete are widely available. Smear with natural live yogurt to create an algae-covered surface.
Disadvantages: Since real stone is heavy, check its final position before planting. Large, expensive containers may need concreting in position to prevent theft. Gray stone can be dispiriting.
Tip: Soften a gray stone container with daisylike anthemis.
Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - Simple Steps to Success: Containers for Patios © 2007 Dorling Kindersley LimitedExcerpted from Simple Steps: Containers for Patios
©Dorling Kindersley Limited 2007
We Recommend...
Choosing Containers for Your Garden
Before buying containers, work out what sizes you'll need, how they'll look, what plants you want to grow and how much time you...
Caring for Your Garden Containers
All containers need thorough washing every so often to make sure they are clean and pest-free—but wood, metal and stone...
Choosing Blue Bulbs for Your Spring Garden
You don't have to have a green thumb to grow these blue blooms.
See Also:
From our Sister Sites:
- Choosing Pear Varieties for Patio Container Gardens (from HGTVGardens)
- Nursery School: Pansies are an Engaging Centerpiece for Your Container Garden (from HGTVGardens)
- Tomato Varieties for Your Container Garden (from HGTVGardens)
Shop Outdoor Products
Shop outdoor products from fire pits to outdoor furniture, planters and more
