Growing in pots
Your beginner guide to beautiful containers for any style of garden
✔ Growing flowers, veg, trees and more
✔ Choosing the right compost
✔ Clear advice and easy instructions
How to pick the right container
The type of material that you choose for your pots will not only affect the look of your garden, but also the growth of your plants. Pressure-treated, lined, timber containers are a good choice for their weather-resistance and give a rustic appeal to the garden. Terracotta pots can be damaged by cold, but are ideal for a Mediterranean scheme and are porous, allowing roots to ‘breathe’, which is vital for plants that struggle if roots are wet for long periods. Glazed ceramic pots will hold onto more moisture than terracotta. Aluminium and galvanised steel containers are a good choice for a sleek, modern patio and are resistant to rust and very sturdy. Plastic pots are light and can be reused many times, but there are also various alternatives made from recycled materials such as bamboo, coffee husk and other plant fibres.
THE BEST POT FOR YOU
Dos and don’ts
✔DO choose pots that are comfortably wide and deep enough to fit the rootballs of the plants you have – one-and-a-half times as wide and deep as the rootball is a good rule of thumb.
✔DO use a mix of different-sized and shaped containers on the patio to add extra height and depth to the area and to show off plants at different angles.
✔DO check if terracotta pots are being sold as frostproof and check if they come with a guarantee.
✗ DON’T plant up a container that doesn’t have any drainage holes.
Key points
■ is important, but make sure the material of the pot suits the plants you want to put in it.■ of the pot should be a key consideration if you like to change
